Buckwheat, wheat, lace, with holes, with sour cream, with meat, cheese, and raisins… It’s all of them, pancakes – the main and most delicious treat for Maslenitsa. Why pancakes? Because they are round and so similar to the Sun, which our ancestors glorified during this festive week.
A little about Shrovetide
This is an ancient Slavic holiday of seeing off winter and welcoming spring. It was adapted by the Christian Church and began to be celebrated a week before Lent. Today there is no fixed date for Maslenitsa, it changes every year depending on when Easter is celebrated.
In the week leading up to Lent, it is customary to eat delicious food and have fun. Every day of Maslenitsa is special. For example, on Monday you need to meet with friends and relatives whom you have not seen for a long time. On Wednesday – feast on goodies, and on Friday, by all means, come to visit your mother-in-law. On Sunday, they ask for forgiveness and get rid of insults and misunderstandings.
The housewives also cooked delicious dishes and baked special bread – pancakes. Thus, people cajoled the Sun, urged to shine, so that it would get warmer faster. This tradition lives on today.
When to celebrate Maslenitsa in 2023?
In 2023, Maslenitsa begins on February 28 (Monday) and will last until March 6 (Sunday).
3 easy and delicious pancake recipes
Pancakes with holes
For openwork pastries that resemble lace napkins, you will need:
- Milk – 500 ml;
- Dry yeast – 10 g;
- Chicken eggs – 2 pcs.;
- Sunflower oil – 3 tbsp.;
- Boiled water – 2 cups (about 500 ml);
- Wheat flour – 3 cups;
- Salt – 5 g;
- Sugar – 2 tbsp.
Heat milk to 35-37 ° C, and add yeast, salt, and a little sugar. Stir the mass until the ingredients are completely dissolved, and leave warm for 15-20 minutes.
In another container, mix 2 eggs, and the remaining sugar, and beat everything well. Pour in the yeast mixture and start adding the flour. Leave the dough for another 20 minutes, but stir occasionally. Then pour in warm water and vegetable oil, and mix again. Everything can be baked. Before each new pancake, grease the pan with vegetable oil.
Traditional pancakes
Prepare:
- 650 ml of milk;
- 2 cups of flour;
- 2 chicken eggs;
- 2 tbsp. l. Sahara;
- Half a teaspoon of salt and soda.
Pour milk into a large bowl, add eggs, sugar and mix everything. We combine flour with soda and gradually add to the liquid. You can knead with a blender, mixer, or spoon. The finished dough should be infused for 10-15 minutes, and baked in a preheated pan.
Bulgarian pancakes
Outwardly, these pancakes resemble American pancakes. They need the following ingredients:
- 1 glass of milk, soda water (possible mineral), and wheat flour;
- 3 chicken eggs;
- 1 st. l. Sahara;
- A pinch of salt;
- Vanillin is optional.
Mix liquid ingredients and flour, salt, and sugar. Knead the dough until smooth. Then add eggs and vanilla. Bake the dough immediately so that the bubbles do not disappear. Serve with jam or powdered sugar.
Frying pancakes with the kids
Children can and should be involved in the preparation of solar bread. This is a great opportunity to tell them about the holiday, it is interesting to spend their leisure time and motivate them to culinary achievements. Just imagine with what pride they will treat their relatives with a dish that they have prepared themselves!
Some useful tips on how to prepare for baking pancakes for both parents and children:
- Do not rush, because the kids need more time to understand the process;
- Be prepared for spilled flour, stains on the table, etc.;
- Measure in advance and pour the ingredients into the container so that the child can pour the right amount of milk, add sugar;
- Agree that you are the chef in the kitchen, and you should be listened to;
- Remember the safety rules when working with hot pans and tell the little bakers;
- Choose simple recipes;
- Give children freedom of action, but still control the process to help at the right time and prevent an emergency.
A little sous chef can be entrusted with mixing the ingredients (salt, sugar, flour); dough kneading; lubricating ready-made pancakes with butter; test for smell and taste. With silicone molds, turn cooking into learning, such as learning colors, and shapes. Also, along the way, talk about how salt differs from sugar, why you can’t touch a hot frying pan, how yeast works, etc.
Related: How To Make Perfect Cheesecake – Step-by-Step Recipe
Shrovetide is another reason to get together with the whole family and spend time together with pleasant chores and fun. We wish you a good holiday, successful culinary experiments, and that the first pancake is not lumpy!
FAQs
Q: What do I need to make pancakes?
A: To make pancakes, you’ll need flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, milk, eggs, and butter or oil for cooking.
Q: Can I use whole wheat flour instead of regular flour?
A: Yes, you can use whole wheat flour instead of regular flour, but the pancakes might be a little denser.
Q: Can I use plant-based milk instead of regular milk?
A: Yes, you can use plant-based milk like almond milk or soy milk instead of regular milk.
Q: How can I make my pancakes fluffy?
A: To make fluffy pancakes, make sure the baking powder is fresh and don’t mix the batter too much. Let the batter rest before cooking and cook them on medium heat.
Q: Can I make the batter ahead of time?
A: Yes, you can make the pancake batter ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Q: Can I freeze leftover pancakes?
A: Yes, you can freeze leftover pancakes. Let them cool, stack them with parchment paper in between, and store them in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Q: Can I add things like chocolate chips or fruit to the pancakes?
A: Yes, you can add chocolate chips, fruit, or other toppings to your pancakes to make them extra tasty.
Q: Can people with special diets eat pancakes?
A: Yes, people with special diets can still enjoy pancakes. For gluten-free pancakes, you can use special flour, and for vegan pancakes, you can replace eggs with mashed bananas or applesauce.
Q: How many pancakes does the recipe make?
A: The recipe usually makes around 10 to 12 medium-sized pancakes.
Q: Can I make more or less pancakes?
A: Yes, you can adjust the recipe to make more or fewer pancakes. Just change the number of ingredients accordingly.
