How Many Types of Waffles Are There?
What is one of the things that come to your mind when you think of breakfast? I bet you might have a few things in your mind, and that one of those is Waffles, those fluffy pieces of heaven that just make your mornings better, they make the beginning of the day way better, and you might not know this, but there are many types of waffles from around the world, sweet, salty, savory, you name it, from traditional to a new trend, waffles are a very important part of our day, and now you are going to see how the rest of the world enjoys it.
1. Brussels Waffle
This kind of waffle is usually referred as the Belgian waffle in the international community; they are made with a yeast-leavened batter that makes them super light and crisp, it is good as a dessert or even as a snack, a very, very tasty snack, it’s shape is rectangular or squared and it has really deep pockets for the chocolate sauce that is traditionally served with, along some powdered sugar and even some berries or other sorts of fruit and a whipped cream topping to make it even better. This type of waffle has a certain rivalry with another type called the Liege Waffle and both are the most popular type in Belgium.
2. Liege Waffle
Nothing better than some healthy competition to help you explore your taste a bit more, and the clear difference between the Brussels Waffle and the Liege is very clear since the latter is made with a thicker batter making it richer and sweeter, also the dough has some sugar chunks in it so it caramelizes into a sweet and crunchy coat, this waffle is served without toppings and as a snack, you might think that it is kind of crazy but it is so good that it doesn’t need anything else!, making it the Belgian equivalent of the doughnut.
3. American Waffle
The old American waffle, the one we all know and love, denser and thinner than the Belgian waffles, they share the pockets for holding the sauces and syrups but with an essential difference, the American waffles are leavened with baking powder instead of yeast, and unlike the Belgian, this one can be enjoyed not only as a breakfast and not always with a sweet topping like the classic chocolate sauce, butter, fruits or maple syrup since it can be served with chicken, fish, bacon and whatever your imagination is set to, like all sorts of ice cream and maybe as a healthier alternative making it with a whole grain batter and topped with Greek yogurt or almond butter.
4. Potato Waffle
Yes, I know, not the most common thing to see in many countries but it is very popular in Great Britain and Ireland, and it is a great thing to eat if you are trying to be a little bit healthier, to change your diet or just to try something different; this is essentially a waffle shaped potato pancake, it goes great with cheese, sour cream, diced tomato, onions, carrots, chili flakes if you love the heat, sea salt and pepper, avocados, mushrooms and even fried eggs and sausages, anyway it is a more savory alternative to your waffles
5. Pandan Waffle
This is the Vietnamese version of the waffle and it is usually a street food, with a very interesting color, since one of the ingredients used to flavor the waffle is Pandan leaves or extract, which gives it a green color and also a nutty flavor, some places use coconut milk instead of regular milk, it can be eaten plain which is the recommended way to eat them since they have an inherent sweetness and rich flavor but it can also be topped with coconut flakes, it can be served round or squared and it is typically chewy, certainly something interesting to try, in this case less is more.
6. Hot dog Waffle
Thailand take on waffles, it is a very popular street food that is perfect for a snack since it combines lunch and breakfast, it is a hot dog on a stick dipped into waffle batter, it takes a very particular iron with the right shape to make this beautiful thing happen, it is usually eaten with ketchup, mayo, mustard, BBQ and many other dipping sauces, very similar to a corn dog but being a waffle batter it has a very different reaction in your palate, the clash between savory and sweet it is just perfect
7. Flemish Waffle
Unlike the Belgian waffles this French version is typically eaten cold and it has an irregular shape although it can be also eaten hot, for toppings it is usually served with sugar, other places add some orange blossom water, fruit slices, berries, ice cream, whipped cream, syrups, they can be made in large batches because they can be preserved for several weeks and like the Belgian version this one has deep pockets to keep that extra amount of chocolate sauce that everybody loves.
8. Vegan Waffles
You might think that this is not exactly a waffle from a particular country, and you are right, there are actually many countries that make this, for example, India, and it is a surprisingly good alternative, some can’t even tell the difference, and a quick recipe involves:
- Almond Buttermilk
- Oats
- Olive oil
- Baking powder
- Maple syrup
- All-purpose flour
They are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, not too sweet, good amount of fiber from the oats and perfect for breakfast or brunch, and if you use gluten free flour then you have a healthy and safe meal for the celiac friends.
So there you have it, some varieties from around the world, some wilder and crazier than others that are more simple and healthier, but still an amazing dessert or snack to enjoy alone or with friends, just make sure to leave a clean plate!