Pancake Day” falls on the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent.
This day is otherwise known as “Shrove Tuesday” or ‘Mardi Gras’ (Fat Tuesday).
Traditionally, both Pancake Day and Mardi Gras serve the same purpose; the last night of indulging in eating richer, fatty foods that one might give up for the upcoming forty days of Lent.
While fasting for Lent has fallen out of fashion, the eating of pancakes has not!
The beauty of pancakes is that they are very easy and cheap to make, and also they can be topped by a range of both savoury and sweet toppings!
Recipes
Below are two recipes for pancakes; A traditional English pancake and also a vegan (dairy and egg free).
Traditional English Pancakes
100g Plain Flour
1 large Egg
300ml Milk
Butter (or oil) for frying
How to make.
Sift flour and a pinch of salt into a bowl.
Make a well and break in the egg and pour in half the milk.
Whisk together.
Gradually incorporating the flour to make a smooth thick batter.
Beat thoroughly to remove any lumps,
Stir in the rest of the milk.
Heat a little butter or oil in a flat based frying pan,
Pour about approx. 2 tbs of batter into the pan, tilting the pan from side to side until the batter thinly coats the base.
Cook over a moderate heat until golden brown on one side, approx. 1 min.
Flip over the pancake and cook the other side until it is golden brown.
Slide the pancake out of the pan on to a plate,
Repeat until all the batter is used up
If preparing in advance, they can be stacked and kept warm in the oven.
Vegan Banana American Style Pancake
These dairy and egg-free banana pancakes have a fluffy, light texture and are stacking pancakes rather than a flat crepe for rolling.
1 large ripe banana (around 150g)
Pinch of salt
2 tbsp vegetable oil (plus extra for frying)
120g self-raising flour
½ tsp baking powder
150ml oat, almond milk or soya milk
How to make
Mash the banana in a mixing bowl.
Stir in the sugar, salt, and oil.
Add the flour and baking powder and mix thoroughly.
Make a well in the centre and gradually whisk in the milk.
The batter should be a thick, droppable consistency.
Heat a little oil in a frying pan over a medium heat.
Add 2 tbsp of the batter. You will be able to make about 4-5 at a time.
Fry on each side for 2-3 mins until golden.
Savoury Topping Ideas
Melted cheddar cheese and pesto,
Ham, cheese & spinach leaves,
Brie and spinach,
Cheese and marmite,
Goats cheese and asparagus,
Brie, bacon and cranberry sauce,
Jalapenos, cheese, refried beans and guacamole,
Bacon & maple syrup,
Mushroom and spinach,
Tomato paste, cheese, ham and pineapple,
Chorizo, leek and cheddar cheese.
Sweet Topping Ideas
Lemon juice & sugar,
Maple syrup,
Golden syrup,
Honey,
Lemon curd,
Orange and icing sugar,
Blueberries and maple syrup,
Banana & Peanut butter &/or Chocolate spread,
Apple sauce or stewed apples with cinnamon,
Strawberries and balsamic vinegar,
Tinned peaches and yogurt,
Cinnamon sugar.
Last Word
Remember Pancakes can be eaten any day of the year not just on Mardi Gras! But remember to be careful with the amount of syrup you use!
Let me know in the comments below what your favourite toppings are and if you have any weird and wonderful suggestions.
About Us
A Food Bank is about so much more than food.
‘Recipes from The Larder’ is part of the community project Sevenoaks Larder. We are based in Sevenoaks, Kent, UK. Sevenoaks Larder is a new food support service (Food Bank), which helps residents of the Sevenoaks area who are struggling to pay for their weekly food shop. We provide fresh, as well as non-perishable, foodstuffs. You can find our Donations Wish List here.
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