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Pancake

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A pancake is a flat, round bread made from batter.

Breakfast (44248677625)
Breakfast (44248677625)

You can find them under many names, like hotcakes, griddlecakes, or flapjacks. Most pancakes are made from a starch-based batter. This batter often includes simple ingredients like eggs, milk, and butter. You cook the mixture on a hot surface, such as a frying pan or a griddle. People all over the world enjoy them at different times of the day. They are a wonderful way to share a meal with others.

Pancakes 44 365 (25372721877)
Pancakes 44 365 (25372721877)

Making a pancake can happen in many different ways. Some people make them thin and light, like a French crêpe.

Crêpe opened up
Crêpe opened up

These thin pancakes can have a lace-like pattern of tiny bubbles. Other people use a leavening agent, like baking powder, to make them thick and fluffy. In North America, these thick pancakes are a very common breakfast food. In South Africa, people make pannekoeke on gas stoves. They often eat these on cold, wet days with cinnamon sugar.

People have been eating pancakes for a very long time. Archaeological evidence shows that prehistoric societies likely ate them. The Ancient Greeks had special names for their pancakes. They called them tēganitēs or tagēnitēs, which comes from the word for a frying pan.

Pancakes 44 365 (25372721877)
Pancakes 44 365 (25372721877)

These Greek pancakes used wheat flour, olive oil, honey, and curdled milk. They were often served for breakfast. In the 15th century, the word pancake appeared in the English language. The Ancient Romans even called their fried treats alia dulcia, which means "other sweets."

Every culture has its own special version of this dish. In Ethiopia and Eritrea, people eat a spongy pancake called injera.

Alicha 1
Alicha 1

It is made from teff flour and acts as a plate, a utensil, and food all at once. In Japan, you might find fluffy soufflé-style pancakes or savory okonomiyaki.

Souffle Pan Cake in Japan
Souffle Pan Cake in Japan

In Indonesia, the rice flour pancake called serabi is served with coconut sugar syrup.

Serabi jawa kuno gula jawa kering
Serabi jawa kuno gula jawa kering

In Nepal, the Newar people make chataamari, a savory rice pancake with meat or eggs. This is sometimes called "Newari Pizza."

Because they are so versatile, pancakes can be sweet or savory. You might top them with jam, chocolate, or cream cheese.

Cheese blintzes with blackberries
Cheese blintzes with blackberries

In India, some pancakes like cheela are made with gram flour or green gram paste. Others, like dosa, are made from fermented rice and lentil batter. In Uganda, kabalagala are made from ripe bananas and cassava flour. Whether they are served with honey or salty meat, pancakes are a global treasure. They connect people through the simple joy of a warm, cooked meal.

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🖼️ Images & Media (29)
File:Alicha 1.jpg
Alicha 1.jpg
File:LahohS.jpg
LahohS.jpg
File:Souffle Pan Cake in Japan.jpg
Souffle Pan Cake in Japan.jpg
File:Serabi jawa kuno gula jawa kering.jpg
Serabi jawa kuno gula jawa kering.jpg
File:YosriLempengNyiur.jpg
YosriLempengNyiur.jpg
File:Salukara.jpg
Salukara.jpg
File:Filipino hotcakes.jpg
Filipino hotcakes.jpg
File:Bánh xèo with nước mắm.jpg
Bánh xèo with nước mắm.jpg
File:Palatschinke.jpg
Palatschinke.jpg
File:Cheese blintzes with blackberries.jpg
Cheese blintzes with blackberries.jpg
File:ОладкиУкраїнські.jpg
ОладкиУкраїнські.jpg
File:Aebleskiver.jpg
Aebleskiver.jpg

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