Pancake
From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change
Pancakes (also called "griddlecakes", "hot cakes" or "flapjacks") are a kind of flatbread prepared from a batter that is baked on an oiled or buttered, hot griddle or frying pan. They exist in several variations in many different local cuisines, such as thin French crepes or Vermont-style multigrain pancakes. Most pancakes are quick breads that use baking powder, although some are also made using a yeast-raised or fermented batter.
In many countries, pancakes are served as a breakfast or as a dessert, and they are served with sweet sauces or toppings such as maple syrup, jam, or sugar. Pancakes are also served with savory (non-sweet) fillings and toppings such as meat.
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[change] How pancakes are made
American or Canadian pancakes contain a raising agent, usually baking powder, and different proportions of eggs, flour and milk which create a thick batter. This batter is either spooned or poured onto a hot surface which is coated in cooking oil or melted butter. The batter spreads to form a cake about 1/4 or 1/3 inch (1 cm) thick. The raising agent causes bubbles to rise to the uncooked side of the pancake, at which point they are ready to be flipped.
The resulting pancakes are very light in texture and are often served at breakfast topped with maple syrup, butter, or fruit. Vermont pancakes usually have a secondary grain added to the wheat flour, either oatmeal or buckwheat flour. Both of these recipes require more baking powder to leaven. The texture is coarser, the flavor deeper suggesting toasted nuts.
[change] Variety of pancakes
[change] North American (Canada and the United States) style pancakes
In the U.S., pancakes can also be referred to as hotcakes, griddlecakes, or flapjacks. A typical portion served in restaurants is 3 to 4 pancakes of more or less 14 cm (5 inch) diameter. A smaller number may be ordered by requesting a "short stack". Diners usually serve 1 or 2 pancakes of more or less 25 cm (10 inches) diameter. A "silver dollar" pancake refers to a pancake about 7 cm (3 inches) in diameter - these are usually served in groups of five or ten.
[change] British Pancakes
British pancakes have three key ingredients: white flour, eggs and milk. Some people also add melted butter to the batter. The batter is quite runny and forms a thin layer on the bottom of the frying pan when the pan is tilted. It may form some bubbles during cooking, which result in a pale pancake with dark spots where the bubbles were, but the pancake does not rise.
These pancakes may be eaten sweet with the traditional topping of lemon juice and brown sugar, or wrapped around savoury stuffings and eaten as a main course. When baked instead of fried, this batter rises (even though it has no raising agents such as baking powder, it rises because the air beaten into the batter expands) and is known as Yorkshire pudding. British pancakes are similar to French crêpes, and Italian crespelle, but are not "lacy" in appearance.
However, in Scotland pancakes, known as Scotch pancakes or drop scones in the rest of Britain, are more like the American variation and are served as such (see below). Scotch pancakes often have sugar in the batter, and are not eaten with syrup. Americans with a "sweet tooth" (a preference for sweet foods), however, can always opt for the double sweetness of a Scotch pancake with syrup.
[change] Scottish Pancakes
Scottish pancake and fruit crumpet.Pancakes similar to the North American pancake but smaller (usually about 3.5 in / 9 cm across) are known in the British Isles as Scotch pancakes or (after the traditional method of dropping batter onto a griddle) drop-scones, and in Australia and New Zealand as pikelets. They can be served with jam and cream or just with butter. In the U.S. these are known as "silver dollar pancakes" since the individual pancakes are each about the size of a U.S. silver dollar (with Eisenhower on the face, no longer minted).
In Scotland, they are rarely served as a breakfast item, but are more commonly considered a dessert item. They are available plain, or as a fruit pancake with raisins baked in, and larger thinner crumpets are made from the same recipe by watering down the mix. The griddle is generally called a girdle in Scotland.
[change] French Crêpes
French crêpes, popular in France, the French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec, and Brazil (where they are usually called pancake, or only crêpe) are made from flour, milk, and a relatively large proportion of eggs (compared with other types of pancakes). Due to their thinness, they are usually served with a filling such as fruit or ice cream. Maple syrup or other sweetened sauces are sometimes served with crepes. Crepes are also served as a dinner meal, by filling them with seafood or other meats.
[change] German Pancakes
German pancakes often served in American pancake houses, are shaped like a bowl. They come in a variety of sizes, some quite large and nearly impossible for one person to finish. They are commonly eaten with lemons and powdered sugar, although jam is sometimes used as well. The pancakes eaten in Germany, however, are of the British variety. They are called Pfannkuchen, although in some areas (Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxonia) that is instead the local name for Berliner, a type of doughnut. Pancaces are called Eierkuchen there. In Swabia, cut pancakes (Flädle) are a traditional soup ingredient.
[change] Austrian Pancakes
In Austria, pancakes are called Palatschinken, a word derived from Latin placenta by way of Romanian, and are usually filled with apricot jam but are also known to have a pleasing taste filled with a chocolate sauce or hazelnut spread. Similar pancakes with similar names can be found throughout the former Austria-Hungary (today Austria, Bosnia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia), see Palatschinken.
[change] Scandinavian Pancakes
Scandinavian pancakes are similar to British pancakes. They are traditionally served with jam and/or ice cream or whipped cream, although they may also be served as a main dish with a variety of savoury fillings. Traditional Swedish variations can be somewhat exotic. Some resemble British pancakes with a tiny diameter; these are called plättar, and they are fried several at a time in a special pan.
Others resemble German pancakes but include fried pork in the batter; these are cooked in an oven. There are also potato pancakes, called raggmunk. These contain shredded raw potato and, sometimes, other vegetables. If the actual pancake batter is left out, the fried cakes of grated potatoes are called rårakor. Both the latter kinds are eaten traditionally with pork rinds and/or lingonberry jam.
[change] Vegan Pancakes
Vegan pancakes are not associated with any nationality, however they are a distinct and popular type of pancake. Generally, vegan pancakes emulate the American pancake by using direct substitutes such as egg substitute and soy milk. However, some variations employ baking soda and occasionally a small amount of vinegar as raising agents.
[change] Indonesian Pancakes
In Malaysia and Singapore a pancake-like snack is made with a filling, usually cheese or kaya but occasionally bean paste, ground peanut, blueberry or custard. There are other interesting variations, such as those made with soya bean partially replacing the flour.
[change] Blintz and Blini
In Russia, Poland and Ukraine, blintz and blini are made from wheat or buckwheat flour, yeast, butter, eggs and milk. Blini come from the French crêpe which were introduced during pre-Soviet times.
[change] Mexican Hot Cakes
In Mexico they are generally called "hot cakes" rather than "pancakes". They are similar in style to pancakes served in the U.S. but are perhaps more likely to mix or replace wheat flour with corn. In addition to being a popular breakfast item at restaurants throughout the country, it is not uncommon to see "hotcakes" vendors on the streets of Mexico City and other cities and during the local celebrations of small towns at all hours of the day and night, selling a single cake topped with some kind of sweet sauce.
[change] Other kinds
In Ethiopia, injera is made from a fermented sourdough batter of buckwheat or the more traditional teff. Unlike North American and European pancakes, the injera is not served with sweet sauces or sugar. Instead, it is served with meat sauce, vegetables, and cooked eggs.
In Hungary, palacsinta are made from flour, milk and/or soda water, sugar, and eggs. They are served as a main dish or as a dessert, depending on the filling. Sweet wine can also be added to the batter. In Italy, cannelloni are made from pancake batter or noodle dough. They are then filled, covered with cheese, and baked.
In the Middle East, pita is made from flour and yeast.In India, dosa are made from rice flour and fried in a skillet.In Chinese cuisine, green onion pancakes are the thin pancakes made with buckwheat flour and green onions, served with moo shu dishes. In Egypt, katief is made.In Venezuela, pancakes are topped with butter and white cheese. In Japan, Dorayaki are a popular sweet consisting of bean paste sandwiched between two pancake-like patties of castella.
[change] Serving
Most types of pancakes, but not the Breton galette, are cooked one side at a time and flipped by the cook halfway through. The process of tossing or flipping them is one of the skills that separates the experienced cook from the beginner cook.
North American pancakes can be made sweet or savoury by adding foods like blueberries, strawberries, cheese or bacon to the batter; bananas or chocolate chips are sometimes dipped in the batter too. British pancakes can be stuffed after cooking with a wide variety of sweet or savoury fillings. Both are often sweetened after cooking by pouring on syrup or sprinkling with powdered sugar.
In Canada and the United States, the pancake is usually a breakfast food made in a person's home. Pancakes are also served at restaurants and diners. One restaurant even specializes in pancakes; the International House of Pancakes has more than 1,000 restaurants.[1]
In Britain, pancakes are eaten as a dessert, or served savoury with a main meal. They are also traditionally eaten on Shrove Tuesday which is also known as "Pancake Day". (Shrove Tuesday is better known in the United States, France and other countries as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday.) According to tradition, this was in order to use up the last of the fat and rich foods before Lent. Charity or school events are often organised on Pancake Day.[2]
In the Netherlands pancakes are called Pannenkoeken and eaten at dinner. Pancake restaurants are popular family restaurants and serve many varieties of sweet, savoury, and stuffed pancakes. In Sweden and in Finland it is traditional to eat yellow pea soup followed by pancakes on Thursdays. There is no such nationwide consensus regarding the other days of the week. A smaller pancake, often called a "silver dollar" pancake, is sometimes used in the creation of hors d'oeuvres in place of crackers or other bread-like items.
Banana pancakes are a popular item in Western-oriented backpackers' cafes in many Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, India, and China.
[change] References
- ↑ North American pancake lovers travelling abroad should bring their own maple syrup, as it is produced in North America and can be expensive and hard to come by elsewhere. Even table syrup (a less expensive artificially-flavoured replacement for maple syrup) can be difficult to come by elsewhere.
- ↑ One popular event is a foot race in which each participant carries a pancake on a frying pan. They have to keep tossing their pancakes in the air (and catching them again) as they run. Every Shrove Tuesday, the towns of Olney, England and Liberal, Kansas have a pancake flipping competition. The two towns' competitors race along an agreed-upon course, and the times of all of the two towns' competitors are compared, to determine a winner. There are other 'Pancake Races' in Britain, but Olney (according to legend) is where it all began. In an old story about Olney a woman was cooking her pancakes when she heard the bells of St Peter and St Paul's Church calling her to worship. She ran out of her house still holding the pancake in its pan, and still wearing her apron. This is how the Pancake Race originated..
