Those aren't Swedish pancakes!!!

[PeeWee]

I caught the first few minutes of "That 70's show" the other day, as it came on right after the rerun of "House".

They're all sitting at the dinner table, and Mom serves them something that they all refer to as "Swedish pancakes" - but those things aren't pancakes at ALL!!!

YouTube - That '70s show - Swedish pancakes

Aaaaargh!!! "Swedish pancakes", my FOOT!!!

First off, the things that Mom is serving are very small and look all yellow, sort of like fried eggs or something, definitely NOT pancakes! They don't even look like AMERICAN pancakes, do they?
Is that BACON on the side, BTW?!? We would NEVER serve pancakes with BACON in Sweden!!!

Second, the small size pancakes that we DO make here in Sweden are called "plättar"..., OK, it really doesn't translate well at all, but a "plätt" is like a tiny patch of something..., "en jordplätt", "a patch of land"...)

A REAL Swedish pancake is THIN, and the size of a frying pan. We have special pancake pans, and then there's a special pan for the smaller "plättar" as well. The "plätt" is just as thin as the pancake..., think crêpes, then you've got the right thickness...

When you've fried the pancake just enough so it's golden and slightly brown on both sides (a bit tricky to flip it over, you need a long spatula unless you know how to flip them in the air!), you fold it, first in half and then once again, so it looks like a triangle. Then you stack them all on the serving plate, and it's easy to grab a triangle and not have to deal with a thin flimsy thing...

HERE is a good recipe for anyone who would like to try making REAL Traditional Swedish pancakes.

We put granulated sugar or sweet jam (NOT lingonberry jam!) or ice cream on our pancakes, NOT maple syrup! Kids like their pancakes rolled up, sort of like swiss rolls, they want their pancakes to be first unfolded with the topping spread out all over the pancake and then rolled up, and then you have to cut it into bite size pieces.

YouTube - Viktor Swedish Pancakes

Now, THAT'S a Swedish pancake!

The traditional "Pancake Day" here is EVERY THURSDAY, when the meal (lunch at school or work usually) consists of dried pea soup (link has recipe), followed by pancakes.

University students all over Sweden often have pea soup & pancake dinners, and they serve it the old fashioned way, with plenty of warm Swedish Punsch to drink.

Personally I would never drink punsch (especially not in combination with pea soup and pancakes, because it totally ruins the culinary experience, blechhh!), but THEY DO, and they seem to have a GREAT TIME!

[attila]

That looks good.

Is there a special flour one should use?

[PeeWee]

That looks good.

Is there a special flour one should use?

We use wheat flour, but you could exchange it with some other finely ground flour if you like - just NOT corn flour!

Also, the batter is suppose to be smooooooth, and pretty thin, not thick and lumpy. Sometimes you might have to add more flour, it depends on whether or not the first pancake sticks together when you flip it over. As long as it's THIN, you're doing it right.

And remember - absolutely NO baking powder or baking soda..., if you add that stuff, it's not Swedish pancakes any more...

[attila]

Thanks. Will try this weekend.

[PeeWee]

HERE'S a cool website that I found, with a whole page full of recipes and instructions and serving tips for the Swedish pancake. Quite amusing!

The only thing I find absolutely annoying about that one is that he actually suggests lingonberry jam as a topping!

No, no, NO!!!

[Isis]

I just use the recipe on the back of the bisquick box.

I liked sugar and jam on mine when I was a kid but now prefer syrup

Occasionally I fix them for dinner. Easy to whip up and filling.

The swedish recipe reminds me more of a crepe.

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

[PeeWee]

I just use the recipe on the back of the bisquick box.

As long as you don't use the Bisquick itself it's fine, Isis - Bisquick has baking powder in it...

[Isis]

As long as you don't use the Bisquick itself it's fine, Isis - Bisquick has baking powder in it...

I know..that makes them puff up.

Like I said, the sweedish pancake here is what we call a crepe.

[PeeWee]

I know..that makes them puff up.

Like I said, the sweedish pancake here is what we call a crepe.

Basically, yes.

I used to make pancakes for my daughter with the cast iron crêpe pan that I had, it's a little smaller in diameter than the regular one (which made it a lot lighter, perfect for a woman my size) but has the same low edge as the regular pancake pan. That pan was a lot easier for me to handle than a regular size one - I could even flip the pancake in the air!

I wish I knew where that pan went..., it disappeared after a move somehow...

[Isis]

I wish I knew where that pan went..., it disappeared after a move somehow...

don't you hate that? My mom had the best ever cast iron skillet that she used almost every day. I would love to have had it. She got where it was to heavy for her to handle and switched to the the lighter weight teflon.