Zucchini Bread Pancakes

Makes 10 to 12 pancakes

• 2 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons light brown, dark brown or granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup buttermilk or 2 tablespoons each of milk and plain yogurt, whisked until smooth
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups shredded zucchini (from about 9 ounces whole, or 1 1/2 medium zucchini), heaping cups are fine
• 1 cup all-purpose flour (half can seamlessly be swapped with a whole wheat flour)
• 1/4 teaspoon table salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground or freshly grated nutmeg
• Butter or oil, for coating skillet

In a large bowl, combine eggs, olive oil, sugar, buttermilk and vanilla until smooth. Stir in zucchini shreds. In a smaller bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir dry ingredients into zucchini batter, mixing until just combined.

Preheat oven to 200°F and place a tray — foil-lined if you’re into doing fewer dishes later — on a middle rack.

Heat a large, heavy skillet (my favorite for pancakes is a cast-iron) over medium heat. Once hot, melt a pat of butter in pan and swirl it around until it sizzles. Scoop scant 1/4-cup dollops of batter (mine were about 3 tablespoons each) in pan so the puddles do not touch. Cook until bubbles appear on the surface, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip pancakes and cook another minute or two, until golden underneath.