My Favorite Breakfast: A Simple Recipe With a Story

A Breakfast Born from Spontaneity

Sometimes the best meals aren’t planned. They don’t come from fancy recipes or carefully measured ingredients , they come from a moment, a feeling, a bit of creativity.

For me, that moment happened two years ago on a small island off the coast of Tanzania - Zanzibar. I was there for volunteer work, living far from home, surrounded by new sounds, new faces, and a kind of sunlight that felt warmer than anywhere else I’d been.

One weekend, my friend and I were hungry but not really sure what we wanted. We didn’t have much in the kitchen, no real breakfast food, no café nearby, no supermarket around the corner. Just a few simple ingredients we’d collected over the week: bananas, coconut flour, a bit of spelt flour, some oil, salt, and a bar of chocolate that had melted slightly in the heat.

We looked at each other, laughed, and decided to just mix everything together. No plan, no recipe. Just curiosity.

And that’s how we ended up creating what would become my absolute favorite breakfast the Zanzibar Banana Pancakes.

The First Bite

I still remember that morning like it was yesterday.

The kitchen was small and open to the outside, and the air smelled like sea salt and fried dough. The sun had just started to rise, casting that golden African light over everything.

We mashed the bananas with a fork, added the coconut and spelt flour, a pinch of salt, a bit of oil, and stirred it all into a soft, sticky dough. The chocolate pieces melted as soon as they hit the warm pan, spreading their sweetness through the air.

We had no maple syrup, no fancy toppings, just what we had. But the result was incredible: soft, fluffy pancakes with a hint of coconut, a touch of salt, and bits of warm, melted chocolate inside.

They were perfect.

And from that moment, they became my comfort breakfast, the one I always go back to when I want to feel grounded, warm, and happy.

More Than Just Pancakes

What makes this breakfast so special to me isn’t just the taste but it’s the story behind it.

Those pancakes remind me of simplicity, of improvisation, of how little you actually need to create something beautiful.

Back in Zanzibar, life moved at a different rhythm. There was no rush, no pressure to make things perfect. We made do with what we had, and somehow that made everything more meaningful.

Every time I make these pancakes now, somewhere far away from that island, I still feel a bit of that peaceful energy. It’s like a small piece of Zanzibar lives inside the recipe, in the bananas, the coconut, the sunlight that I imagine every time I take a bite. 

What You Need (and Probably Already Have)

The best thing about this breakfast is how simple it is.

You don’t need any special tools or rare ingredients just a few basics and a bit of love.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 ripe bananas

• 2 tablespoons coconut flour

• 2 tablespoons spelt flour (or any flour you like)

• A pinch of salt

• 1–2 tablespoons oil (coconut or sunflower work great)

• Some pieces of dark chocolate (or chocolate chips)

• A splash of water or milk, if needed

Mash the bananas with a fork, mix in the dry ingredients, then add the oil and a bit of liquid until the texture feels right smooth but thick enough to form pancakes.

Cook them in a pan on medium heat until golden brown on both sides.

That’s it. No sugar, no butter, no complicated steps. Just real ingredients that taste like home - even if “home” happens to be halfway across the world.

                                   

The Zanzibar Feeling

There’s something magical about breakfast in Zanzibar.

The island wakes up slowly roosters crow in the distance, children laugh on their way to school, and the smell of spices drifts through the air.

Eating those pancakes under a palm tree, barefoot, with the ocean just a few minutes away, made me realize how food can capture a whole moment in time.

It wasn’t about luxury or presentation it was about connection.

To the place, to the people, and to the little joys that happen when you stop trying to control everything.

When I eat those pancakes now, back in Europe, I can still feel that calm island energy. I close my eyes, and suddenly I’m back in that small kitchen, laughing with my friend, flipping pancakes on a rusty pan, and feeling completely at peace.

Healthy, Fast, and Happy

From a more practical side this breakfast also checks all the boxes.

It’s healthy (thanks to bananas and coconut flour), quick to make, and perfect for students or busy mornings.

The natural sweetness of the banana means you don’t need extra sugar.

The combination of coconut and spelt flour keeps you full but light.

And the chocolate well, that’s just happiness in every bite.

Whenever I have one of those chaotic mornings when everything feels too fast, I make these pancakes. They take only ten minutes, but somehow they slow everything down.

It’s like giving yourself a small island moment before the day really begins.

Food as a Memory

Food is so much more than fuel it’s memory, nostalgia, and sometimes even therapy.

Everyone has that one dish that brings them back to a specific time or place. For me, these banana pancakes are my time machine to Zanzibar.

They remind me of freedom, of warmth, of simple friendship and laughter.

And maybe that’s what breakfast should always be not just a way to fill your stomach, but a way to reconnect with something that makes you smile.

Sometimes I think the best recipes are the ones you never meant to create the ones that just happen naturally.

Sharing the Taste

Over the years, I’ve shared this recipe with friends, family, and even people I barely knew.

It’s amazing how something so small can start conversations.

Everyone adds their own twist someone adds cinnamon, another person swaps chocolate for berries, someone else makes them completely vegan.

And that’s the beauty of it.

It’s not a strict recipe; it’s an idea. A memory you can build on.

Even if you’ve never been to Zanzibar, you can still taste a little bit of that island spirit, the feeling of sunshine, curiosity, and creativity in every bite.

A Morning to Remember

These pancakes taught me something simple but important:

Sometimes, joy doesn’t need a plan. You just have to use what you have, trust your instincts, and let life surprise you.

Every time I cook them, I smile at how something so ordinary became so special. It’s not about perfection; it’s about connection to a moment, to a memory, to yourself.

So the next time you don’t know what to make for breakfast, try mixing what you have. You never know you might just create your own little miracle, too.

See you next week! 🥞🍌🥥

Valentina