Medieval pancakes with some strange twists

With it being Pancake Day today, we are taking a look some of the pancakes enjoyed during the times of the friars. Although, read on if you wish as some of these ‘unusual’ recipes might make you flip out!

This recipe from the 13th century (shown below)has a name which translates into ‘Nice day for a white pancake’, which day isn’t? The recipe states that wine can be added to the mixture for more flavour. (the friars sure did love their tipples) and that four fingers should be placed into the batter to give it a stir. The pancakes should be then served with ‘oranges’ . Although, given that these ‘oranges’ could have referred to another recipe in this book for pork meatballs resembling fruit (Italian pancakes anyone?) maybe don’t add that to your next pancake feast.

A recipe from the cookbook “A Noble Boke of Cookry ffor a Prynce Houssolde” (Medieval English, just in case you thought we had one too many wine pancakes) shows that pancakes would also be deep-fried and flour was not used which resulted in a more crispy texture. The famous pancake race, which still happens annually in Olney, is also said to have started during the Middle Ages in 1445 when a woman upon hearing church bells, ran to church in her apron still clutching her frying pan in hand. Anything for a good pancake!

Looking for more reading on how the friars wined and dined? Check out our on blog on the favourite tipples of the friars here. If you don’t mind us, we’re going to go enjoy a colossal pile of our favourite Medieval pancakes, the more Medieval pancakes the butter!