Pancake Day 2018
Tuesday 13 February 2018 is Shrove Tuesday, AKA Pancake day! This day marks the beginning of Lent, when people give up an indulgence for 40 days. Traditionally, Shrove Tuesday gave people the chance to use up eggs and fats before the Lenten fast – perhaps this is why pancakes became so popular. Although the link between consumption of pancakes and Lent is still unclear, it doesn’t stop people all over the world, in numerous countries, enjoying these flat, tasty treats.
Below are two recipes for a savoury and sweet pancake batter, accompanied by some unique topping suggestions you may want to try this year.
Thin Savoury Pancakes – Makes 6
Ingredients
60g plain flour
1 medium egg
150ml whole or semi-skimmed milk
Oil for pan-frying
Salt and Pepper for seasoning
Method
Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl
- Crack in the egg and stir in the milk
- Use a hand whisk to mix until smooth mixture.
- Pour mix into jug
- Turn on hob to high heat, pre-heat frying pan (2min) and add 1tbsp oil
- Once heated, pour mixture into the pan, and move the pan to spread the mix into the pancake shape
- After ~30 seconds, or when the pancake comes away from the base, use a spatula to flip it over
- Allow 30 seconds of cooking on the other side
Some suggested toppings…
Brie & pre-cooked bacon pieces; Mushroom and Boursin; Spinach & ricotta; Scrambled egg & chili flakes
Thick Sweet Pancakes – Makes 6
Ingredients
80g Self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 medium egg
130ml whole or semi-skimmed milk
20g melted butter
2 tsp caster sugar
Oil for pan-frying
Method
- Sift the flour, baking powder and sugar into a bowl
- Add in the egg and melted butter
- Pour in the milk and whisk until smooth, thick batter. At this point, you may add ingredients you would like to incorporate into the pancakes, such as fresh berries, chocolate chips, dried fruit, chopped nuts etc.
- Put the hob on to med-high heat and preheat the pan (2 mins)
- Add a small amount of oil or butter to the pan
- Use a ladle or jug to pour batter onto pan (enough to form a circle the size of a sellotape roll)
- Leave to cook until bubbles appear in the batter (~40s)
- Use a spatula to flip the pancake and leave for 30-50s to cook on the other side
- Tansfer the pancake onto a plate, on which you can stack the others on top
- Repeat step 5 – 8 until batter is finished
- Add toppings
Some suggested toppings…
Nutella (warmed so more sauce-like) with chopped banana; Low fat yoghurt, pomegranate seed, drizzle of honey and some fresh mint; Fresh berries – blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, warmed and mashed into a thick sauce.
Don’t forget you can also try our gut friendly Spinach & buckwheat pancakes with smoked salmon or Blueberry, banana and cardamom pancakes .