Chewy, Crispy Sourdough Waffles

I think I am firmly in the waffle camp when it comes to pancakes versus waffles, or at least I am today. When done right, they are both chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside, with perfect little craters to fill with maple syrup. They might even be the perfect breakfast food, although having them at lunch or dinner is also totally acceptable. 

This recipe came about when I needed to use up extra levain from making sourdough bread. The addition of active, bubbly sourdough starter creates a light waffle that has a very slight tang to it to balance out the sweet syrup. These are naturally leavened, with no baking soda or powder added, and the only flour in the mixture is already fermented in the levain. So, this is a great bready treat to make that is also nutritious and easy to digest.
​
​The batter can be put together pretty quickly, but making the waffles really well may take some practice, especially in a stove top waffle iron like I have. This recipe lends itself well to tasty additions like chopped pecans (my favorite), and certainly all of the butter you can cram into the crevices after cooking. We opted for some fresh Amish-grown strawberries and homemade whipped cream, as well as some local maple syrup, so it was perfectly summery and satisfying.

Antique waffle iron, courtesy of my man

Crispy, Chewy Sourdough Waffles 
Makes ~6

For the levain:
1-2 Tbs active sourdough starter
200 g flour 
200 g warm water

The night before you plan to make waffles, or ~8 hours before you make them, combine your active, bubbly starter with the flour and water, and mix well to combine. 
Cover with a cloth and let sit at room temperature until ready to use. When ready, it will appear bubbly and light, and have a pleasant, fruity smell. 
Alternatively, you can use levain from making bread that you would otherwise be discarding. Simply begin with your levain and make the following recipe. 

Bubbly, active levain

Soft peaks, the key to crispy and light waffles

For the waffles: 
400 g levain 
3 Tbs melted butter
3 large eggs, separated 
3/4 tsp sea salt 
1 tsp vanilla 
2-3 Tbs maple syrup, to taste
2 Tbs heavy cream or whole milk 
Optional: 1/2 tsp cinnamon 
Extra butter for greasing the waffle iron

Heat your waffle iron while you prepare your batter.

In a medium bowl, whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks. ​

Fluffy batter ready to cook

Combine the levain, melted butter, egg yolks, salt, vanilla, maple syrup and cream. Stir well to combine. 

Gently fold in the whipped egg whites, being careful not to deflate them. This helps keep the waffles light and crispy. There may still be some visible pieces of egg white, which is totally fine. 

Using about 2/3 cup of batter per waffle (depending on your waffle iron, but this should be pretty standard), add the batter to a preheated, buttered waffle iron and cook until crispy and golden brown on each side. For my cast iron waffle maker, this is usually about 3-5 minutes per side. 

Repeat with the remaining batter, top with your favorite waffle fixings and enjoy! ​
You could make these ahead of time and freeze them, then pop in the toaster when the mood strikes. But hot and fresh is the way to go if you can!