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Sometimes you just find yourself with a random 1/4 cup of pumpkin puree in the fridge.
Now, I’m willing to admit that on fridge cleaning day, a normal person would most likely be willing to just toss it. Not me. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 100 times: I am a weird food-waster-phobic.
That 1/4 cup of pumpkin was getting eaten.
Of course it wasn’t enough pumpkin to make something like a cake, quick bread, or even granola, so what to do with it?
Savory Pumpkin-Cheddar Pancakes with Rosemary…Topped with Fried Egg (Sorry for the iPhone picture here, I was getting hungry at that point…this was too delicious topped with fried egg not to share though!)
I could have tossed it in with oats and made a quick bowl of pumpkin pie oatmeal…or whipped it up into a homemade pumpkin spice latte (BTW, if you’re looking for the perfect PSL recipe I have you covered – it’s in the BLEND: Holiday Volume 1 recipe e-book!).
But I sometimes forget that pumpkin loves savory just as much as it loves sweet.
I happened to glance at the rosemary plant on my kitchen counter that was on its last legs (side note: why can’t I keep a plant alive to save my life?), and a savory idea took shape. Onions, garlic, herbs, sharp Cheddar. Oh yes, these goodies were going into a savory treat along with said pumpkin.
Pancakes call for toppings the way cookies call for milk or peanut butter calls for jelly. They just go. What best to top these savory little beauties with? Honey or maple syrup, of course; despite being savory, they are wonderful with a sweet syrupy topping. Butter is also pretty perfect, or if you want to skip the syrup, a fried egg with runny yolk will do the trick.
These can also be served at room temperature as a pretty little appetizer. Serve each topped with a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt and maybe a sprinkling of fresh chives; arrange them on a pretty platter, and you have a lovely, super simple appetizer. New Year’s Eve party or New Year’s Day brunch, perhaps?
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 large cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
- ½ cup (65 g) all-purpose flour
- ⅓ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup (60 g) pumpkin puree (canned or homemade)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons milk (low-fat is fine)
- 2 oz (60 g) sharp Cheddar, shredded
- Canola oil, for frying
- Any toppings you like, such as fried egg, honey, maple syrup, butter, sour cream, Greek yogurt, or herbs (like fresh minced chives)
- Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat; add the onion and cook until softened and just starting to turn color, about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and rosemary, and cook 1 minute more, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
- Whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and black pepper in a medium bowl. Add the egg, pumpkin, honey, vinegar, milk, and onion mixture, and stir to combine, being careful not to over-mix. Fold in the cheddar.
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add a light coating of canola oil and swirl the pan to coat. Drop the batter into the hot skillet by the heaping tablespoon and slightly spread it out to a circle. Cook until golden on both sides, about 3 minutes per side (don’t be afraid to let these pancakes get a little darker and crispier than normal pancakes – they are fantastic that way!).
- Wipe out the skillet, add more oil, and cook the remaining batter the same way.
- Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature with any toppings you like.
I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.
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I made this vegan with a flax egg, rice milk (added a little extra too because batter seemed thick), maple syrup, and violife! Super delicious way to use up leftover pumpkin puree.
I tried this recipe tonight and, while I loved the flavor combination, the consistency didn’t hold up to frying at all. I ended up with a gooey mess that fell apart. I tried using more oil so that I could cook them longer without sticking, and then I just ended up with a gooey oily mess. I’m not sure where I went wrong. Maybe I needed more flour? The recipe only calls for 1/2 cup – is that correct or a typo? I would love to try again if I could get the consistency right for frying!
Molly, Thanks for trying the recipe, I’m sorry to hear it didn’t turn out for you! Did you make any changes to the ingredients? The 1/2 cup flour is correct; the batter should be somewhat similar to pancake batter. Was your pan hot enough? I find that if I try to make pancakes of any kind, if the pan isn’t hot enough they don’t hold up well. I hope that helps!
I made these tonight and they were delicious! I substituted molasses for honey, and it deepened the flavor nicely. Thank you for a great recipe!
These look fabulous for a brunch I’m attending! Have you ever tried them in the waffle maker?
These look fabulous for a brunch I’m attending. Have you ever tried them in the waffle maker?
Dee, Thanks so much! No, I’ve never tried these in a waffle maker, but let me know how it goes if you give it a try!
These look wonderful and full of flavor!
These are like your pumpkin pancakes for 1 only savory I love it
Thanks so much, Calvin. Yes, these recipe are definitely similar in that if you have 1/4 cup of pumpkin puree, you could make either of these recipes!
These pancakes are seriously the shiz!!! Love them!
Funny how pumpkin puree tends to hang around isn’t it? I love how you utilized it in a savoury application!
These sound great and I happen to have a can of pumpkin on the back shelf – dinner for tomorrow!
I love it when delicious recipes come together out of random ingredients that need to be used up. This is the most brilliant use of pumpkin, cheese, and rosemary I ever did see! Brilliant, lady!
There are some great flavors going on in those pancakes-I’d love to try making them with sweet potato!
I love the idea of making these as an appetizer, great flavors!
This looks fantastic!
i have been obsessively adding eggs to everything. I may have a cup of pumpkin puree somewhere in the freezer..hmmm
These are book marked! I always end up with leftover pumpkin and am trying to find more and more recipes that use up that last bit. These are perfect. A great brinner!