A few years ago during the peak of the pandemic, I came across a video on “Tasty” (a food creation app) and saw this recipe called, “ Bubble Waffles”. Curious to try, I begged my parents to buy the unique dessert. However, because we could not travel all the way to the cafe in Chinatown, we decided to make it at home.
Since my parents were used to eating regular desserts such as cookies, brownies, or ice cream, it was safe to say that my parents were not familiar with the amount of eggs that went into the dessert. As I found out later, eggs are a staple ingredient in Chinese cuisine.
Even though I loved the eggy and fluffy taste, the waffles were a bit soggy and had a spongy taste. With a persevering and open mind, I explored through my refrigerator to find an ingredient that would somehow make the waffles crispy. Finally, after some digging ( yes my refrigerator is messy and has a lot of food) I grabbed a big container of Greek yogurt. Why? For years, I had strongly opposed the bitter taste of the dairy product, but for some reason, something inspired me to pick it up. So, instead of adding in eggs, I plopped in four tablespoons of Greek yogurt! In addition, I added butter to the waffle iron for an extra crisp.
As the waffles were cooking, I could hear the sweet batter sizzling in the waffle iron. Filled with happiness, I waited patiently for the golden spheres to cook. After waiting for some time, I slowly opened the iron, hoping for the waffle to be as golden as I had imagined it! And golden it was; the bubbles seemed to hold hot pockets of steam and dough, as the edges had a hard crisp chocolatey brown to it. As a result, I topped the waffle with whipped cream, berries, and chocolate. Even though the dessert was a little unhealthy, it was through this experience that my parents decided to explore more Chinese dishes.
Being brave enough to use my intuition and incorporate sharp tastes like Greek yogurt, is a lesson to all readers reading this article; do not be afraid to take risks, and it is okay to make mistakes. However, this article will also explore the different ways to make this delicious dessert, so that everyone can enjoy it.
The first recipe was for people who want a healthier option. The waffles consisted of one third cup of waffle mix, a fourth cup of water, and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. While waiting for the iron to heat up, I put on a dollop of coconut oil to add extra crisp. Next, I poured the batter in, and waited patiently. Not too long after, smelled the hot steam coming out of the iron; a sweet smell that permeated the air. Even though the timer beeped, I left it in for a minute more to get a golden look.
Finally, a beautiful dish was revealed, having a golden color to it. On top, I drizzled honey, topped it with a few bananas and strawberries and added walnuts for a crunchy add on. As a result, the waffles were around 325 calories for three waffles! The best part is that it includes all the most important food groups such as protein, fiber, and carbohydrates. From this, I was able to have a phenomenal amount of energy and endurance for my workout. This recipe highlights the importance of incorporating a balanced meal into your diet. In fact, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and helps with energy to get through the day.
The next recipe incorporates ingredients from Walmart. The first ingredient I put in the bowl was “Complete Pancake and Waffle Mix” which costs about 24 cents for half a cup. Next, I poured in one cup of water which is obviously free, as well as ice cubes which helps make the waffle crispy. Additionally, I mixed in a ⅓ cup of vegetable oil from “Great Value Vegetable Oil” which costs approximately 0.19 cents. Overall, the cost came down to 0.43 cents for one waffle! However, it is important to note that the prices I listed are estimated, as I calculated the prices based on how much of the ingredient I used.
More importantly, the dish surprised my family and I on how good it was! Honestly, I was a little skeptical at first, considering that most of the ingredients were bought at Walmart, and seemed to be in full stock. Yet, when trying the dish as a solitary man without any of its sidekicks (toppings) the warm golden spheres filled my mouth with a heavenly fragrance, putting me in a trance. Exaggerating much, no. For the cheap price of 0.43 cents, my family and I were pleasantly surprised by the taste.
Even though the bubble waffles amazed us all, what is more important is the lesson I learned from it; expensive is not always better. In the other recipes, I focused on using good quality ingredients and avoided brands that were not familiar to me, and seemed cheap. Moreover, people in society today must avoid having a fixed mindset and sticking to ideas that make them feel comfortable.
Furthermore, bubble waffles are truly a delicacy that should be enjoyed by everyone. The mouth watering fluffy but crispy dessert allows people to experience a culture’s dish that is similar to American Waffles but has its own uniqueness. More importantly, making bubble waffles taught me a lot of lessons such as being open to trying new things, or that cheaper items can be just as good as expensive items, and so on. Therefore, people today must take this lesson and apply what I have learned from these recipes to all areas of life.
