Savory Waffles: Pizza-fied

By now, you know I'm a northern girl. (Well, to be fair, going back just two generations, a full half of my family is from Georgia and Kentucky.  I've been told that this explains my love of Velveeta grilled cheese with Karo, honey on cornbread and possibly even red velvet cake.) So where in the world did savory waffles come from?

Pinterest.  It almost makes me wonder if the internet is slowly going to eat away at our sense of regional cuisine.  Who really cares if something is "southern" or "Tex-Mex" (or even from the other side of the world!) if the recipe is right there amongst all the recipes we make every day?

But if that means I get food like these pizza waffles, that's ok with me.

Maybe savory waffles aren't even a southern thing, but I associate them with chicken and waffles, which is a southern specialty.  You definitely don't see them much around here.  Apparently, however, savory waffles have been around a long time.  Historically, they were made in ancient Greece and 1700s America.  Who knew?  I somehow spent a whole evening researching the history of waffles.  So much for going to bed early.

And we've actually had these waffles twice in the last two weeks.  They are that good.  They are a pretty awesome Friday dinner.  And as not healthy as I'm sure they are, I think they are still better than straight-up pizza.

So, wait.  Back up.  If you are thinking standard breakfast, drench-me-with-maple-syrup waffle, that's not what this is.  Basically, remove any sweet ingredients from a standard waffle batter and add cheese, bacon (since NES is a more of a bacon pizza fan than pepperoni pizza fan) and pizza herbs -- now you have pizza waffle batter.

Then, you serve it with marinara sauce and a little more cheese.  Honestly, they don't come out super cheesy or super pizza flavored, but it all just blends together into a wonderful tasty waffle.  That is totally 100% ok to eat for dinner.  Even though waffles are always acceptable for dinner.

And that is what we call a savory pizza waffle.

Also, they are tasty.  You should definitely try them.

I am a new savory waffles convert.  Totally.


Pizza Waffles
slightly adapted from Shutterbean

2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. flaked red pepper
3/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup (3 slices) crumbled bacon (or chopped pepperoni)
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
marinara sauce and extra cheese for serving

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, and garlic powder.  Whisk until blended.

Add the cheese and bacon, and mix so that it is coated with the flour mixture.

In a large measuring cup or bowl, whisk the eggs, milk and oil.  Add to the dry ingredients and whisk until just blended.  Do not over mix.

Preheat and grease the waffle iron.  Cook the waffle according to waffle iron instructions.  The waffle should be golden.

Repeat until all the batter has been used.  Serve warm with warmed marinara and extra cheese.



Oh, and by the way, happy snow day!
Of course, there was baking going on!  Stories to come!

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