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    Home / Breakfast & Brunch / Pancakes & Waffles

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    Buckwheat Crepes, Any Which Way

    By Alanna Taylor-Tobin on Oct 27, 2010 (updated Feb 18, 2020) / 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    syrup being poured onto stack of buckwheat crepes
    I never felt truly at home while growing up in LA, but when my dad took me up to Berkeley one summer to visit my older brother, I fell immediately in love.

    stack of crepes
    (With Berkeley, that is, not my brother. Though naturally I love him, in a brotherly way.)

    two stuffed buckwheat crepes
    While the craftsman architecture, lack of strip malls, and clean(er) air certainly didn't hurt, the deal was sealed when we breakfasted at Cafe Fanny one morning. I loved perusing the handwritten menu, ordering at the counter, and sitting outside at a table in the parking lot with the locals waiting for our food. There, I sipped my first non-Starbuck's coffee (a creamy latte served in a giant ceramic bowl), tried baked goat cheese salad (transcendently unctuous), and ogled artisan loaves at Acme next door.

    eggs and flour in a bowl
    But what stayed in my mind the most were the buckwheat crepes.

    Wrapped around thick, tangy yogurt and a handful of pristine strawberries, the crisp-chewy-spongy crepes were unlike anything I'd ever tasted before. I fell hard for those crepes, which to me embodied the understated elegance of Northern California.

    crepe being flipped
    While some fourteen-year-olds dream of becoming movie stars or models, I spent math classes imagining going to college at UC Berkeley and working as a cook at Cafe Fanny. (I'd be a shoe-in due to my close friendship with Wolfgang Puck, natch.)

    My hopes were dashed when, at 18, the only school I got into was UC Santa Cruz (probably shoulda payed more attention in that Algebra class!), and I was forced to work instead at the College 8 bakery under a boss who couldn't even pronounce 'focaccia' properly. It was rough. By the time I'd made it to the Bay Area, Alice Waters had sold Cafe Fanny to someone who thinks that it's ok to have eggplant on the menu in February, and I realized that getting up at ass o'clock every morning to get payed minimum wage just wasn't my thing.

    buckwheat crepe in a pan
    But none of that matters now, because I can make Alice's buckwheat crepes anytime I want(read: not ass o'clock) at home. My dad gifted me the Chez Panisse Menu Cookbook shortly after that first crepe-obsession-inducing trip and I was thrilled to find the recipe on page 66. I have since made it many, many times.

    cheese
    Buckwheat, or blé noir, has become one of my favorite grains, with hints of nuts and cinnamon in its pretty black flecks. It is gluten-free, and full of l-lysine, an amino acid that can help kick canker sores.This batter contains plenty of buckwheat flour, as well as hefty doses of butter, beer, and milk. A healthy amount of salt and a bit of sugar make the crepes full flavored, but neutral enough to wrap around sweet or savory ingredients.

    The only change I make to the recipe is to substitute some whole spelt or wheat flour for the all-purpose. Just be sure to let the batter rest for at least two hours, so that the glutens have time to relax, ensuring tender, lacy crepes.

    ham cheese and mustard filling in a crepe
    Traditionally, buckwheat crepes are called 'galettes' and are reserved for savories, while 'crepes' are made with white flour and filled with sweet things. But Alice suggests serving these for dessert with a mango-sauternes compote, and if she says it's ok, then it must be. I like these equally with sweet and savory fillings, for any meal of the day. This morning I sliced some fresh figs and drizzled them with creme fraiche and honey. At lunchtime, the crepes got rolled with thinly sliced gruyere, stoneground mustard and smoked turkey and served with a crisp green salad.

    Other filling ideas:

    sauteed spinach, mushrooms and caramelized onions or leeks
    poached quince with goat cheese
    sauteed pears, apples or peaches with maple syrup
    sweetened ricotta cheese and fresh berries
    smoked ham with swiss
    roasted asparagus with beurre blanc
    softly scrambled eggs with herbs
    brie and ripe pear slices
    wild mushrooms and cream sauce

    Making crepes takes a bit of practice to get the hang of, and I won't lie: I get nervous every time I go to swirl the batter around my well-seasoned pan. But it is a task I find meditative and quite satisfying. The crepes can be made up to a day or two in advance, stacked on a plate, and heated 'to order' as needed.

    glass of beer
    And nothing washes them down better than a glass (or crock) of dry, French cider.

    melting cheese over crepes

    Though a bowl of latte would be a close second.

    crepe being cut with fork

    For more brunch recipes:

    • Sourdough Apple-Oat Cheddar Pancakes
    • Sourdough Flaxseed Waffles
    • Bacon Beer Scones
    • Migas
    • Tomato Pie with Basil, Parmesan + Cornmeal {gluten-free}

    *Bojon appétit! For more Bojon Gourmet in your life, follow along on Instagram,  Facebook, or Pinterest, purchase my gluten-free cookbook Alternative Baker, or subscribe to receive new posts via email. And if you make this buckwheat crepe recipe, I’d love to know. Leave a comment and rating below, and tag your Instagram snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet  and  #bojongourmet.*

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    Buckwheat Crepes

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    These versatile crepes are perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner!
    Alanna Taylor-Tobin
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Resting time: 2 hours hours
    Total: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 crepes (6 servings).

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup whole milk, divided use
    • 2 ounces unsalted butter (1/2 stick, 4 tablespoons)
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
    • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons buckwheat flour
    • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole spelt or wheat flour
    • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil (such as sunflower)
    • 1/2 cup beer (such as Anchor Steam, or another lager)

    Instructions

    • In a small saucepan, gently heat 1/2 cup of the milk with the butter, salt and sugar until the butter is melted. Let cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
    • Meanwhile, whisk together the flours in a medium bowl. Make a well, and add the eggs and oil. Whisk until very smooth, gradually adding in the beer and the cooled butter/milk mixture. Chill the batter for at least two hours in the fridge, or up to a couple of days. Remove from the fridge and stir in enough of the remaining 1/2 cup of milk until the batter reaches the consistency of heavy cream.
    • To cook the crepes, heat a well-seasoned 8 or 9" crepe pan or skillet over medium heat. Swirl about half a teaspoon of butter or oil in the pan, then wipe it out with a paper towel. (Unlike pancakes, you don't want a lot of fat in the pan, just enough to prevent the crepes from sticking. If your pan is well-seasoned, you will only need to oil it once before you begin, but wipe the pan with a bit more butter if your crepes begin to stick.) Pour 3 - 4 tablespoons of batter into the pan and swirl it to coat it evenly. If you've poured in too much batter, you can pour the excess back into the bowl. If you have some holes in your crepe, you can dab on a bit of batter to fill them up. This may take a bit of practice, but you will soon be swirling like a pro.
    • Let the crepe cook until lightly golden on the first side, about a minute, then flip and cook another 30 seconds or so on the second side. (I like to use a small, metal, offset spatula to pry up a side of the crepe, then I bravely use my fingers to flip it over.) Slide the crepe onto a large plate, and continue with the batter, stacking the crepes as you go, until you've used it all up. (If you want this to go faster, you can use two pans: one to cook the first side, then flip it into the second pan to finish cooking while you start another one in the first pan.)
    • Cover the crepes with a damp towel and leave at room temp for an hour or two, or cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to several days.

    To reheat and serve:

    • Each crepe will have a pretty side (the first side it was cooked on) and an 'aesthetically challenged' one (the second side.) Melt a little butter in a pan and heat the crepe pretty-side-up for a few seconds. Flip and heat the second side (ugly-up). You can melt cheese on the crepe, and add any other ingredients you like. Fold it half or into quarters and serve. Alternatively, you can roll the crepes up (with any desired ingredients), place them side by side in a baking dish, sprinkle some cheese over the tops if you wish, and bake in an oven until heated through.

    Notes

    Adapted (barely) from the Chez Panisse Menu Cookbook, by Alice Waters.
    Nutritional values are based on one of twelve crepes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 93kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 117mgPotassium: 51mgSugar: 1gVitamin A: 190IUCalcium: 29mgIron: 0.5mg
    Making this? I'd love to see!Tag your snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet and #bojongourmet!

    Buckwheat Crepes

    Adapted (barely) from the Chez Panisse Menu Cookbook, by Alice Waters

    Makes about 1 dozen crepes, 6 servings

    1 cup whole milk, divided use
    2 ounces (1/2 stick, 4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1/2 teaspoon sugar
    1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons buckwheat flour
    1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole spelt or wheat flour
    1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    2 eggs
    1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil (such as sunflower)
    1/2 cup beer (such as Anchor Steam, or another lager)

    In a small saucepan, gently heat 1/2 cup of the milk with the butter, salt and sugar until the butter is melted. Let cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.

    Meanwhile, whisk together the flours in a medium bowl. Make a well, and add the eggs and oil. Whisk until very smooth, gradually adding in the beer and the cooled butter/milk mixture. Chill the batter for at least two hours in the fridge, or up to a couple of days. Remove from the fridge and stir in enough of the remaining 1/2 cup of milk until the batter reaches the consistency of heavy cream.

    To cook the crepes, heat a well-seasoned 8 or 9" crepe pan or skillet over medium heat. Swirl about half a teaspoon of butter or oil in the pan, then wipe it out with a paper towel. (Unlike pancakes, you don't want a lot of fat in the pan, just enough to prevent the crepes from sticking. If your pan is well-seasoned, you will only need to oil it once before you begin, but wipe the pan with a bit more butter if your crepes begin to stick.) Pour 3 - 4 tablespoons of batter into the pan and swirl it to coat it evenly. If you've poured in too much batter, you can pour the excess back into the bowl. If you have some holes in your crepe, you can dab on a bit of batter to fill them up. This may take a bit of practice, but you will soon be swirling like a pro.

    Let the crepe cook until lightly golden on the first side, about a minute, then flip and cook another 30 seconds or so on the second side. (I like to use a small, metal, offset spatula to pry up a side of the crepe, then I bravely use my fingers to flip it over.) Slide the crepe onto a large plate, and continue with the batter, stacking the crepes as you go, until you've used it all up. (If you want this to go faster, you can use two pans: one to cook the first side, then flip it into the second pan to finish cooking while you start another one in the first pan.)

    Cover the crepes with a damp towel and leave at room temp for an hour or two, or cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to several days.

    To reheat and serve:
    Each crepe will have a pretty side (the first side it was cooked on) and an 'aesthetically challenged' one (the second side.) Melt a little butter in a pan and heat the crepe pretty-side-up for a few seconds. Flip and heat the second side (ugly-up). You can melt cheese on the crepe, and add any other ingredients you like. Fold it half or into quarters and serve. Alternatively, you can roll the crepes up (with any desired ingredients), place them side by side in a baking dish, sprinkle some cheese over the tops if you wish, and bake in an oven until heated through.

    fork cutting through savory crepe

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    the cover of the award-winning cookbook, Alternative Baker

    Hungry for more?

    Alternative Baker celebrates the unique tastes and textures of 14 gluten-free flours, from buckwheat flour to almond flour to sorghum and coconut! This cookbook will fill your kitchen with sweet treats that burst with flavor every month of the year.

    Learn more and find out where to buy →

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jessa says

      October 27, 2010 at 5:42 pm

      Now all I need to learn to make is a good lobster cream sauce, and I'm all set!

      (I might have some fresh local Dungeoness crab meat soon, which would be a close second to lobster. Hmmm...)

      Reply
    2. alanna says

      October 27, 2010 at 5:50 pm

      Can I come over when that happens? : )

      Reply
    3. Ann Lam says

      October 30, 2010 at 7:51 pm

      Such a satisfying post! I'm going to have to remember "transcendentally unctuous" -- awesome food writing.

      Reply

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    I'm Alanna, a recovering pastry chef-turned food photographer, stylist, videographer, and award-winning cookbook author. The Bojon Gourmet is a celebration of the sweet, savory, and occasionally boozy recipes that I create in my San Francisco kitchen. About →

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    the front cover of Alternative Baker, a cookbook by Alanna Taylor-Tobin, winner of the IACP Cookbook Awards

    My cookbook, Alternative Baker, contains 100+ recipes featuring corn, oat, chestnut, almond, buckwheat, sorghum, and other gluten-free flours. Find out where to get your copy! →

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