Canjeero (Sourdough Pancakes)
Excerpted from In Bibi's Kitchen

Yield:
12
Pancakes
Canjeero, sometimes also called lahoh, are thin pancakes made from a fermented batter. They are similar to Ethiopian injera but lighter in flavor, smaller in size, and faster and easier to make. Instead of ground teff (same thing as teff flour), water, and nothing else (which is how injera is traditionally made), the sourdough starter for canjeero is made with a little bit of yeast, which helps speed up the fermentation, along with ground corn (easier to find in the United States than teff, but you can try teff flour if you have it or any type of ground grain such as sorghum). That starter is then mixed with more water, all-purpose flour, a little baking powder for reassurance, and some sugar and salt for flavor. The mixture can sit for as little as 4 hours or up to overnight (injera typically takes days to ferment). The pancakes are quick to cook and are most typically enjoyed in the morning for breakfast. You can spread each pancake with a little butter, ghee, or sesame oil and sprinkle with sugar if you’d like. Serve with hot tea or, for a special treat, alongside cups of Shaah Cadays (Somali Spiced Tea with Milk). You can also serve canjeero with savory foods in the morning or alongside lunch or dinner. They’re also great for scooping up stewed meats like Somali Beef Stew.
In Bibi's Kitchen by Hawa Hassan with Julia Turshen
Grandmothers from eight eastern African countries welcome you into their kitchens to share flavorful recipes and stories of family, love, and tradition in this transporting cookbook-meets-travelogue.
Hardcover
- 1 cup finely ground white cornmeal
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 5 cups warm water
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon unsalted butter (or canola oil)
- Place the cornmeal, yeast, and 2 cups of the water in a large bowl and stir together vigorously with a spoon. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature, until small bubbles appear on top and the mixture has risen slightly, about 1 hour.
- Add the remaining 3 cups water, the sugar, baking powder, and salt to the bowl and stir well to combine. Whisk in the flour until the mixture is smooth. Cover the bowl with the kitchen towel and let it sit at room temperature for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours; the longer it sits, the more flavor it will develop. The mixture will have some bubbles on the surface.
- When you’re ready to cook the pancakes, place the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Once the butter has melted and the skillet is hot, stir the batter well and ladle enough into the skillet to form a thin, even layer across the bottom, tilting the pan to coat the surface (the exact amount will depend on the size of your skillet but figure about ½ cup). Use the rounded base of your ladle to swirl batter to make some circular grooves on the surface. Cover the skillet with a lid and cook until no liquid remains on the surface and the underside is barely golden brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer the pancake to a plate and repeat with the remaining batter (no need to add more butter after the first pancake). Stack the pancakes as you make them and serve them warm as they are or rolled up as in the photo.
Julia Turshen is the bestselling author of Now and Again; Feed the Resistance, named one of the best cookbooks of the year by Eater, and Small Victories; named one of the best cookbooks of the year by the New York Times and NPR. She has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, and Saveur. She is the founder of Equity At The Table (EATT), an inclusive digital directory of women and non-binary individuals in food.
Hawa Hassan is James Beard Award winner, host of Food Network’s Hawa at Home and Cooking Channel’s Spice of Life, acclaimed author of In Bibi’s Kitchen, and founder and CEO of Basbaas, makers of African-inspired sauces and condiments. An acclaimed speaker and presenter, Hawa has been covered by major international media including The New York Times, Vogue, Vanity Fair, The Wall Street Journal, Bon Appetit, The Seattle Times, Condé Nast Traveler, Thrillist, Ebony, The Ringer, San Francisco Chronicle, Forbes, The Washington Post, and New York Magazine.