I have tried making spicy Thai pancakes with a sweet chili dipping sauce that is out of this world. The heat levels of both the pancakes and the dipping sauce can be adjusted to taste. You can pair a spicy/savory pancake with a sweet chili dipping sauce or a slightly sweeter pancake with a much spicier chili dipping sauce.

Start by finely julienning about a cup each of green onion and red pepper, and about a half cup of spicy pepper (Jalapeno, Serrano or Thia Chili depending on the heat level you want) into match-stick sized pieces. Mince up about one half pound of small shrimp. Start by sauteing the shrimp over med-high heat in a neutral oil such as grape-seed oil until about half-way done...(about 1 minute)...add veggies, salt, black pepper, and red chili flakes (depending on your heat preferences) and saute for another 30 seconds...you don't want to fully cook the veggies, must removing the raw taste, but still very crisp. Hit with about 1 tablespoon of fish sauce and remove from heat, spread on plate to cool.

Pour a bottle of sweet chili sauce into a small sauce pan over med-low heat. You can add red chili flakes or a finely sliced Thai chili to the sauce depending on how hot you want it. Just warm the sauce for about 10-15 minutes to let the heat distribute through out...do not boil...

Next make the pancake batter. Use your personal favorite, store bought mix, or one of these. You can up the sugar to make the pancakes a little sweeter if you plan on making the chili sauce very hot.

BASIC PANCAKE BATTER

2 c. sifted all-purpose flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. sugar
2 egg
1 1/2 c. milk
3 tbsp. oil

You may want to experiment with a beer batter pancake.

BEER BATTER PANCAKES

3 c. Krusteez Buttermilk Pancake mix
2 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 lg. eggs
1/4 can of Rainier beer
Some milk

Mix in the cooled veggies and shrimp. Scoop a heaping tablespoon of mix (be sure to get a lot of veggies) and fry small pancakes about 3" in diameter in a skillet or griddle in a little butter or non-stick spray. Once brown, place on a rack in 200 degree oven to keep warm while you finish the rest of the pancakes...

Place a generous amount of sweet chili sauce on a plate. Place one pancake in the middle of the sauce. Prop a second pancake on the first. Drizzle both with sauce liberally. Garnish with finely chopped cilantro.

This makes a wonderful appetizer or side dish.

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