I know what you’re thinking for Shrove Tuesday: come home and indulge in a few sweet pancakes with a drizzle of lemon and a sprinkling of sugar? Come on. You’re better than that. Forget the lemon and forget the sugar, because I’m here to swap your series of tedious traditional toppings for a succession of scrumptious explosions of taste-bud love. To add to the vast array of creative toppings we have here in England, I have scoured the globe (all in one afternoon I might add), to bring you the weird and wonderful of the pancake culture from across the world. So wherever you find yourself this Shrove Tuesday, don’t panic if there is no Nutella in sight. I have it covered.
Let’s FLIPPING go….
The Wonderful Ones…
1. Malaysia: Apam Balik
The “peanut” pancake, often referred to as the Turnover Pancake, (the clue is in the picture). This is a sweet pancake usually sold by roadside vendors and fillings include ground peanut, sugar, corn or dried coconut. Planning to visit Malaysia? Don’t leave without sampling this sweet snack stuffed with a generous amount of filling then folded like an omelette. Alternatively, there are lots of website recipes to help you recreate this pancake without ever leaving your student digs.
2. Finland: Pannukakku
This is an oven-baked pancake from Finland, generally served hot with jam, jelly or whipped cream. It takes a while longer to prepare (hence the oven bake) but alternative fillings make it worth the wait. It is cut into slices and topped with your favourite sweet fix.
3. Greece: Tiganites
A fluffy popular breakfast dish served throughout Greece. Some Greeks will tell you it was the first documented pancake in the world. This pancake is made with olive oil and usually drizzled with honey, chopped walnuts, sesame seeds, currants or cinnamon. These pancakes are customarily served on the feast days Saint Spyridon festival on the island of Corfu and St Andrew in Patras.
4. France: Crêpes
Oui, we cannot forget the French crêpes, said to originate from Brittany but now popular in several countries around the world. Crepes are made by pouring a thin batter onto a hot frying pan or flat hotplate. This thin, wide pancake deserves a mention because of the huge versatility of fillings, from a simple dust of sugar or a thick layer of melted chocolate, to the savoury breakfast alternative of ham, cheese or bacon. The fact my chosen picture shows a crepe with THICK chocolate is merely coincidental and in no way reflects my preference. Or as they say in France “menteur”.
The Weird Ones…
5. China: Chinese Scallion
Chinese scallion pancakes is yet another scrumptious snack, which differs from Western pancakes as it is made from dough and not batter. Another popular street food served by vendors, divinely chewy and savoury, served with a dipping or soy sauce.
6. India: Malpua
These sweet deep-fried pancakes are common in North and East India, and eaten especially around Holi (the festival of colours) and other special occasions. Commonly made from a mix of milk, flour and cardamom, these pancakes are topped with pistachio and rabri, a rich thickened milk. Then, they are dipped in a simple syrup of sugar and water.
7. Denmark: Aebleskiver
An aebleskiver is a traditional Danish pancake often called a Pancake Puff and normally served around Christmas with mulled wine. It is prepared in a special moulded pan and served with jam and sugar. Oh, and did I mention the mulled wine?
So there we have it! A sample of the some of the post popular and pleasant pancakes that can be found right here on Planet Earth. If you are not totally sold by any of these examples, you could always replicate what I will be doing this Tuesday: chocolate spread and sliced banana with a dollop of ice cream! I may even have a pancake, too! Is it Tuesday yet…?