Celebrate National Pancake Week Like The Ancient Greeks

Welcome to National Pancake Week! While National Pancake Day happens each September, this time of year we get a whole week dedicated to flippable griddle goodness.

Pancakes, it turns out, are among humanity's oldest prepared foods. The earliest archaeological evidence comes from Ötzi the Iceman, whose 5,300-year-old remains revealed einkorn wheat pancakes in his stomach.

Thousands of years later, Ancient Greeks enjoyed "tagenias" or "teganites," a type of pancakes made from wheat flour, olive oil, honey and curdled milk. Early references to these tasty treats come from Athenian poets like Cratinus and Magnes in the 5th century BC, which makes them over 2,500 years old. Romans called their version "alita dolcia" (another sweet), mixing flour eggs, and milk into flat cakes fried in oil or butter.

The timing of National Pancake Week connects to Shrove Tuesday (Feb. 17 this year), also known as Pancake Day. This Christian tradition has an interesting connection to the weather: Households would make pancakes to use up rich ingredients like eggs, milk and butter before the Lenten fast, as spring warming meant these perishables would spoil without refrigeration over the 40 days of fasting to come.

Ancient Greek Teganites (Honey Pancakes)

Celebrate pancake week with a taste from antiquity by making this recipe based on ancient Greek sources.

Ingredients:

1 cup wheat flour (or all-purpose flour)

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup milk or water

Pinch of salt

Honey for drizzling

Sesame seeds (optional, for topping)

Instructions:

Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Create a well in the center.

Add beaten eggs and milk, whisking from the center outward until you have a smooth, pourable batter (slightly thicker than crepe batter).

Heat a generous amount of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.

Pour small rounds of batter (about 3-4 inches) into the hot oil. Cook until bubbles form and edges look set, about 2 minutes.

Flip and cook another 1-2 minutes until golden brown.

Remove to a plate and immediately drizzle generously with honey. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.

These simple cakes taste remarkably modern despite their ancient origins. The olive oil gives them a distinctive richness, while the honey provides a sweetness that will make you ready for the Acropolis. Serve them warm and enjoy the taste odyssey they take you on.