Some of our very cool neighbors recently hosted a potluck with several great vegan dishes. Jen S. actually prepared two different styles of homemade vegan chili, and asked that we bring something like cornbread. After a test waffle batch worked well with a popular store-bought vegan chili, we showed up with a waffle iron and a bowl of batter. Even better yet with the homemade chili! They also blend nicely with maple syrup and molasses.

• 1 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 cup soymilk or other nondairy milk
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespooons molasses
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Dissolve the yeast in the water in a large non-metal bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in the all-purpose flour, cornmeal, whole wheat flour, and salt until well blended. Cover the bowl and place it in a warm location until the flour mixture has almost doubled.  (You can use your oven for this. Make sure the oven rack is low enough for the bowl to fit. Turn the oven on for one to two minutes at 200 degrees F. Turn off the oven, place the covered bowl on the rack, and close the oven door. If you wish to let the batter stand overnight, covering the bowl and leaving it at room temperature will work fine.)

After the flour mixture has risen, combine the soymilk, oil, brown sugar, molasses, baking powder, and baking soda in a small bowl. Break up any clumps of baking powder or baking soda. Pour into the raised flour mixture and stir until well blended. Let stand for 15 minutes. Preheat the waffle iron for 3 to 5 minutes while the batter is standing. Spray both grids of the waffle iron with oil. Pour or ladle the batter into the center of the iron, covering no more than two-thirds of the iron’s surface for the first waffle. Adjust the amount as needed for subsequent waffles. Bake each waffle for 3 to 5 minutes, or until it can be easily removed. Makes 4 (7-inch) round Belgian waffles.

Not a single crumb of vegan waffle left!

Because the dough needs time to rise, begin at least three hours in advance of baking the waffles or one and a half hours in advance if you are using quick-rise yeast. Or, allow it to rise overnight for an even stronger flavor and a wonderful aroma.

• 1 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons soymilk or other nondairy milk
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons molasses (blackstrap, if available)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Dissolve the yeast in the water in a large non-metal bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, and salt until well blended. Cover the bowl and place it in a warm location until the flour mixture has almost doubled. (You can use your oven for this. Make sure the oven rack is low enough for the bowl to fit. Turn the oven on for one to two minutes at 200 degrees F. Turn off the oven, place the covered bowl on the rack, and close the oven door. If you wish to let the batter stand overnight, covering the bowl and leaving it at room temperature will work fine.)

After the flour mixture has risen, combine the soymilk, oil, brown sugar, molasses, baking powder, and baking soda in a small bowl. Break up any clumps of baking powder or baking soda. Pour into the raised flour mixture and stir until well blended. Let stand for 15 minutes. Preheat the waffle iron for 3 to 5 minutes while the batter is standing. Spray both grids of the waffle iron with oil. Pour or ladle the batter into the center of the iron, covering no more than two-thirds of the iron’s surface for the first waffle. Adjust the amount as needed for subsequent waffles. Bake each waffle for 3 to 5 minutes, or until it can be easily removed. Makes 3 to 4 (7-inch) round Belgian waffles.

Alongside good old maple syrup, these go very well with a range of fresh fruit toppings, and with the Warm Peanut Ginger Agave Sauce.

This recipe makes roughly 4 round Belgian-style waffles.

Ingredients

• 1 C buckwheat flour
• 1C white rice flour
• 3/4 t salt
• 3/4 C + 1 T warm water
• 2 t dry yeast (I’ve used quick-rise dried yeast a few times with good results; note that some yeasts contain gluten)
• 1 C unsweetened soymilk
• 2 t raw sugar, blackstrap molasses (we’ve enjoyed this recipe with both), or other sweetener of choice
• 3/4 t baking soda
• 1/3 C hot water
• 3 T vegan margarine (I use Earth Balance–if you use canola oil, add an additional 1/8 to 1/4 t of salt)

Directions

The night before you plan to bake and eat the waffles, whisk together the flours and salt in large bowl. In separate bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Mix in soymilk, then blend yeast-water-soymilk mixture into flour mixture. Stir until very well blended (this is a case where the batter doesn’t have to be lumpy). Cover the bowl and allow the dough to rise slightly at room temperature.

The next morning, dissolve the baking soda in the 1/3 C hot water, and add the sweetener and margarine. If necessary, place the mixture in the microwave just long enough to soften the margarine (for our microwave it’s 30 seconds). Whisk to break up any lumps of margarine and pour the mixture into the flour-soymilk-yeast mixture. Stir until well blended, and allow to sit another half hour before baking in waffle iron.