I have been incredibly fortunate this Autumn to have been on two press trips to the Caribbean thanks to Aruba Tourism and Celebrity Cruises UK. I’m likely going to spend much of this cold, dark Shetland winter reliving the adventures I had there through a series of blog posts. I can still imagine the warmth of the sun on my skin and the feel of the warm sand between my toes while sifting through the hundreds of photographs I took.
Both press trips took me to Aruba, a tiny island just twenty miles north of Venezuela, one of the four countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands along with the Netherlands, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten. That island will always hold a special place in my heart as it gave me my first taste of Paradise, and that’s where I learned about pan bati.
The words ‘pan bati’ literally translate as ‘smashed’ or ‘beaten’ bread because you beat the batter well. You then cook it like you do pancakes. The batter is prepared with plain flour and cornmeal with baking powder as the raising agent. It is seasoned with a little salt and some sugar, to taste. Unlike pancakes, there is no fat or egg added.
While on my first trip to Aruba we went on a historical walking tour of its capital, Oranjestad, where we watched a short cookery demonstration of pan bati being cooked at the Coco Plum Restaurant.
You’ll find many variations of the bread on the island, with each establishment (and home cook) giving it their own twist, but one thing’s for certain: it tastes fantastic. Think of it as a cornbread-like pancake which goes well with all manner of soups and stews (and a Balashi Chill beer!).
I made a batch of pan bati for my family recently, and my husband said it reminded him of a flatbread he’d tasted once in Abu Dhabi – it’s now his new favourite flatbread, so I expect I’ll be making it regularly from now on! The kids even requested the leftovers in their packed school lunchboxes!
Aruba boasts a wide range of restaurants and eateries, but one of my favourites is The West Deck, just a fifteen-minute walk from the cruise ship terminal. Take a right, browse through the shopping district and keep going straight until you cross over the bridge with the Anne Frank statue to your right. Make sure to watch out for the park filled with iguanas!
The West Deck, pictured below, features a wide range of authentic Aruban cuisine from coconut shrimp to conch fritters, to the stewed meat and cheese covered keeshi yena and the Aruban-brewed Balashi beers. It’s all very affordable too, and with its open-air deck plan with views over the Caribbean and its light cooling breeze off the sea, it’s a great venue for lunch where you can sip your beer and watch the pelicans dive for their dinner. You can also order a rather delicious Caribbean bread basket which features pan bati, among other breads.
You might also like my other blog posts about the area: Vist the Flamingo Beach at Renaissance Aruba and Frankie’s Abaco Avocado & Rum Cocktail. There are plenty more blog posts planned too – I’m going to be recreating the delicious keeshi yena using local lamb soon, and there will be a recipe post featuring the delicious deep-fried pastries popular with locals: pastechi. Oh, and I’m also compiling a Foodie’s Guide to Aruba. Watch this space!
Have you ever visited Aruba? Where did you eat when you were there? Do you have any special memories of the place? Let me know in the comments!
Aruban Pan Bati Recipe
Ingredients
- 250 grams plain flour
- 160 grams fine cornmeal
- 2 tbsp baking powder
- 3 tbsp skimmed milk powder
- 450 ml water
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
Instructions
- Stir the flour, cornmeal, baking powder and skimmed milk powder together in a large bowl and add the water.
- Beat well, for about 15 minutes, until the batter is very smooth and of a thick, pancake mixture-like consistency. Stir in the salt and the sugar.
- Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium high heat and spoon out two heaped tablespoons worth of batter onto the pan. Cook until browned on both sides, like pancakes.
- Set aside to cool. Serve with butter.
Notes
With huge thanks to Aruba Tourism and Celebrity Cruises UK for the opportunities to visit this beautiful #OneHappyIsland paradise. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
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Take a photo and tag @tangoraindrop or use the hashtag #elizabethskitchendiary and share on Instagram and Twitter. It would make my day to see your creations!
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Mum of three, daydream adventurer, OU Life Sciences graduate, occasional crafter, ex-pat Canadian & quite possibly Britain's most northerly food blogger.
Mils says
Hi! I’m from Bonaire, part of the ABC islands together with Aruba and Curacao! You forgot to mention Bonaire in your text, and The Netherlands most definitely isn’t part of it haha
Glad you like Aruba and pan bati! Your pan bati looks great 🙂
Stephanie Francis says
Hi. I was born in Aruba but have lived in the UK for 50+ years. I now want to be more aware of my birth[place & particularly, recipes from Aruba so that I can start to cook them at home. Any good recipes for Christmas greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Heather Coleman says
One of my favorite things about Aruba was this bread! The restaurants that served it had all amazing foods but I have been looking for a recipe I’m excited to try this!! Thanks
Leila Benhamida says
Oh nice.I could enjoy it with a bit of honey and nice cup of ginger tea.
Dee says
Hi!
1st, Love that this recipe doesn’t use milk.
Last, NL doesn’t “own” Aruba.
As a proud Arubian, reading that I am “owned” left a bitter taste in my mouth. Even more as NL played a role in the transatlantic slave trade.
Greetings,
Dee.
Elizabeth says
My sincerest apologies – no offence was intended by my phrasing. I have amended the text now. Glad to hear you approve of the recipe though – it’s now one of our family favourites.
Missviclb says
This looks so good – you’re making me hungry! I might have to try and have a go at making some
Kerry Norris says
We’re in Abu Dhabi soon. I wonder if we’ll firstvtaste this dish there too. You’re very lucky with the Aruba press trips x
Zena's Suitcase says
I really want to explore this part of the world, and one thing that really interests me is the cuisine. This flatbread sounds and looks delicious
Tanya Brannan says
Wow how lucky were you to get to go to Aruba!! It sounds amazing to me.
I love the sound of the Pan Bati recipe, it looks super simple and I think would go well with a curry or kebab based meal!
five little doves says
Ooh that does loo delicious! I love anything you can dip and this looks perfect!
Toni | This Mama says
Such amazing photos, I’d be in heaven with all that food it looks so yum! My hubby would love that bread, I’v pinned the recipe to try it out 🙂
Ali - We Made This Life says
I’ve not heard of this before but it looks delicious and sounds easy enough to make. I’ll have to try it!
Beth @ BethinaBox.com says
This looks interesting. I will have to give it a go to see if the kids like it. I love savoury nibbles. 😀
kirsty says
I’ve never hard of arubna pan bati before but its interesting to learn about a new bread. I love the idea of beating the mixture and that you cook it like a pancake. That would be really cool to try out x
Jenni says
I’d never heard of this bread before. I can’t eat wheat, but I might try recreating it with gluten free flour.
Rhian Westbury says
Wow two trips there, I have to say I’m jealous. The bread sounds lovely though x
Angela Milnes says
This sure looks tasty. I have tried bati before but never made it so am glad to come across this recipe.
Melanie says
The coco plum restaurant in Aruba looks fab. I love how you have recreated the dish looks yummy x
Katrina says
Never heard of this before but looks tasty and a cross between a pancake and a potato cake
Jenni says
Ooh it all looks so delicious. I would love to visit Aruba one day x
The Frenchie Mummy says
I like this type of food: it’s like nibbles but it looks so tasty! I could do with some right now! Actually, I am craving for some…
Patrick says
The pan bati does look like a pancake or a flapjack. Definitely would like to see Aruba.
Phoebe says
This looks great. Is there something you can’t an replace the milk powder for to make it vegan?
Lyndsey O'Halloran says
This looks like a cross between bread and a pancake. Sounds delicious too!
Katie says
Oh wow, so jealous of your trip to Aruba. I might just make this bread, whack the heating up full and pretend I’m there!
Katie xoxo
Claire says
Oh wow, I wish I was here now. It looks like an amazing place. The recipe looks yummy, I could just eat it now.
Rachel says
Yum! Looks really different and yummy! Love the pics too – very arty!
Cath - BattleMum says
Wow how lucky are you! I’d love to visit Aruba. I’ve never heard of Pan Bati but I’d definitely give it a try. I like alternatives to traditional bread and would be happy to eat this alongside a good soup this winter!