Shrove Tuesday Easy Pancake Recipe – Medieval Lent

Its Pancake Day! Or Shrove Tuesday, or Mardi Gras. It marks the end of Shrovetide and the beginning of Lent. The purpose of the carnival is to indulge on all of the foods and behaviours which are forbidden throughout the lent period, which is around 40 days.

These deeply Christian celebrations are not personally relevant to me in this modern era. However, my interest focuses on how these events were marked in medieval times when Christianity was arguably at its peak.

It seems that lent was much more intense back then, especially in the many monasteries and cathedrals which civilisation were built around. You can read more about it here!

Some of the basic rules of medieval lent were as follows;

• Ash Wednesday and Good Friday were total fast days, no food at all
• No food until 3pm all throughout lent
• No animal meat or fats
• No eggs or dairy
• Fish, wine and beer were allowed however!

Most people observing lent would have eaten bread, vegetables, and salt. Not very varied at all.

But why do we eat pancakes before all of this begins? Well the reason I believe is a pancake is composed of a combination of milk, eggs and fats. Three ingredients that were forbidden over lent AND non preservable for the 40 days, so why not add some flour and use up all your ingredients?

The Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 100g of plain flour
• 1 tbsp of butter (for the pan)
• 300ml of milk

The Method

1. Add the flour, eggs and milk to a mixing bowl and whisk into a smooth batter.
2. Heat up a frying pan to a medium heat and melt the butter.
3. Once melted, pour your batter into the pan and cook your pancakes for 1 minute on each side or until golden.
4. Serve with your preferred toppings

This recipe should make 6 pancakes altogether. Be sure to keep them warm in a low heat oven as you go!