Carolina Rice Waffles

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups cooked long-grain white rice, cooled
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 3 large eggs, separated
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• Nonstick spray, for the iron

Before you cook

• Break up the cooled rice with your fingers so there are no clumps.
• Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl.
• Beat the buttermilk, egg yolks and melted butter together in a second bowl.
• Stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, then fold in the rice.
• Whip the egg whites to soft peaks and fold them through the batter.

Steps

1. Heat a waffle iron to medium-high and grease it thoroughly.
2. Spoon about 3/4 cup of batter into the iron and spread it gently to the corners.
3. Close the lid and bake for five minutes, until the outside is crisp and well browned.
4. Pry the waffle loose with a fork and rest it on a wire rack.
5. Repeat with the remaining batter, regreasing between waffles.
6. Serve them hot with butter and cane syrup, or alongside country ham.