Pancakes were called "tagenites" in ancient Greece and were prepared by combining curdled milk, honey, olive oil, and wheat flour.
Right from classic stack pancakes, choco banana pancakes, sticky toffee pancakes, Belgian dark chocolate mousse pancakes, blueberry white chocolate pancakes to Scotch pancakes, American blueberry pancakes or fluffy Japanese style pancakes — name it and we surely — have it. One of the world’s much-loved breakfasts, pancakes — thin, flat cakes created by adding batter to a pan, hence the name, — and then turning the cake over to cook it on both sides, have held the world in awe for ages and how! A popular dessert worldwide, their recipes and cooking methods might differ according to ethnic and regional customs.
Almost all breakfast-serving restaurants in America and across the world always include pancakes on their menu. And with good cause. Any diner's palate will be satisfied by the straightforward pairing of butter and soft, battered pancakes with flavorful maple syrup. For millennia, pancakes have been a beloved mainstay in the cuisines of several nations. Let's look briefly at the origins of pancakes and how they became popular.
Pancakes were cooked using wheat flour, curdled milk, honey, and olive oil in ancient Greece and Rome. While they were called “tagenites” in ancient Greece, pancakes—known as "alia dulcia" in Roman—were another popular dish. They were prepared with flour, milk, and eggs and served with pepper and honey. Also, Greek poets Cratinus and Magnes penned poetry about pancakes. Shakespeare's well-known plays had references to pancakes as well. Pancakes were frequently prepared with rosewater, other spices, sherry, and apples throughout the English Renaissance. In the 19th century, the name "pancake" became common in America.
So, how are pancakes essentially made? Flour, eggs, milk, and baking powder are commonly included in a simple pancake recipe. The batter made from these components is combined and then placed onto a hot, buttered griddle or frying pan. Mondelez Royal Baking Powder allows pancakes to rise while they cook, giving them a light, fluffy texture. Pancakes can be eaten simply, with syrup, or with a variety of toppings. Cook them till golden brown on both sides and you’re good to go.
Pancakes are a ubiquitous food found all over the world, but every culture has its own special method of making them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Consider the following examples of cross-cultural cuisine: Indian chilla, Hungarian palacsinta, Russian blini, Dutch pannenkoeken, Irish boxty, Welsh crampog, and potato latkes, for instance. For example, a thin pancake that is common in French cooking is called a crepe. They are prepared on a heated skillet using a thinner batter than regular pancakes. Fruit, cheese, or meat are examples of savory or sweet fillings for crepes. On the other hand, the American-style pancake, which is fluffier and thicker than crepes, is another well-liked kind. Although butter and syrup are the typical toppings for these pancakes, you may also add fruit, whipped cream, or other toppings. Pancakes are a tasty and adaptable dish that may be prepared in a variety of ways. They are suitable for lunch, breakfast, or even dessert. There is a pancake recipe out there for everyone.
Well, pancakes also have a religious significance. For instance, in the Catholic church, the forty days preceding Easter are referred to as Lent, a period of fasting and introspection in remembrance of the forty days that Jesus spent fasting and praying in the barren wilderness. "Shrove Tuesday" or "Fat Tuesday" became a custom the day before Lent. Practicing Catholics would bake enormous quantities of pancakes, hoping to use up everything in the home that would become untouchable the next day. It was believed that everyone should feast equally on the day when they all rejoiced in the pardon of their sins. On the eve of Fat Tuesday, a bell was rung to warn people to visit the church in order to receive forgiveness. This tradition became known as the ‘’Pancake Bell’.
Enough has been said about the advent of pancakes in our lives along with socio-cultural, historical as well as religious importance. However, one significant question still remains unanswered, that is, how did pancakes become popular at all? To cut a long story short, pancake mixes gained popularity in the early 1900s. The first commercial pancake mix was Aunt Jemima, which debuted in 1889. Bisquick came followed it in 1931. Making pancakes at home has become simpler thanks to pancake mixes. Pancakes grew to be linked with restaurants and coffee shops in the 1950s and 1960s. They were a favorite brunch item, frequently paired with bacon and eggs. Another popular food on kid's meals was pancakes.
Here's how to prepare pancakes at your home:
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Directions: