Pancake Day is nearly upon us. A time to embrace the usually-vilified duo of sugar and carbs, the real key to their power lies in the accoutrements. Sure, you can go for the tired, rote options: maple syrup, whipped cream, ice cream, banana, chocolate, a menagerie of fruits – or you could experiment by adding our dried herbs to those fluffy discs of fried, battered heaven.
To commemorate Shrove Tuesday, we’ve selected five healthy alternatives to the usual pancake adornments. But first, we need to find out a bit more about the day itself…
What is Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day?
Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday, is a holiday celebrated in many countries around the world on the day before the start of the Christian season of Lent. Traditionally, Pancake Day was a way for people to use up certain ingredients such as eggs, milk, and sugar before the start of the fasting period.
Nowadays, the religious themes of Pancake Day are mostly consigned to history, as the majority of those celebrating do so simply for the love of the ‘cake.
Which herbs can I add to my pancakes?
Shrove Tuesday doesn’t have to involve a debilitating overload of sweetness – it certainly has to involve a debilitating amount of carbs (you can’t have Pancake Day without pancakes, as the saying goes) – but you can swap out that mound of sugar and deluge of syrup for healthier options.
We’ve compiled five such options, each as delicious as they are nutritious…
Dried Goji Berries
As scrumptious as fruity accompaniments can possibly get, our Dried Goji Berries are a delectable, low-calorie, nutrient-rich option to jazz up your pancakes. Packed with antioxidants and a number of other body-boosting properties, they’re tasty and good for you – never a bad combo!
Dried Goji Berries 枸杞子 (Gou Qi Zi/Wolf Berries) | (100g) | Purchase NowDried Hawthorn Berries
You may not presently associate pancakes with Dried Hawthorn Berries, but we wager that will change as soon as you’ve tried this culinary combination: the tart, invigorating punch of each berry balances out the richness of the pancakes in a spectacularly fulfilling way.
Dried Hawthorn Berries 山楂 (Shan Zha) | (100g) | Purchase NowDried Jujube Dates
A palate-pleasing fruit of Eastern origin, Dried Jujube Dates are crisp on the outside yet juicy in the middle; offering a refreshing, unusual layer of texture to typical pancake recipes. Just don't forget to remove the stone in the middle first!
Dried Jujube Dates 红枣 (Whole) (Hong Zao) | (100g) | Purchase NowDried Black Plum
Adding a sour, juicy explosion to your pancakes may not immediately spring to mind, but this unique alchemical mix yields mouth-watering results when done correctly. You can sprinkle them on as is, or rehydrate them in boiling water first – either way they’re an innovative choice to spice up your Shrove Tuesday.
Dried Black Plum 乌梅 (Wu Mei) | (100g) | Purchase Now
Dried Orange Peel
There's a reason lemon is so popular in pancake dishes; that citrusy zing is hard to beat. But it doesn't always have to come from lemon, and in fact the zest you get from Dried Orange Peel can bring a totally new dimension to your pancakes. Sprinkle them on top for a vibrant, vitamin C-infused burst.
Dried Orange Peel 陈皮 (Chen Pi) | (100g) | Purchase Now
Summary
Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is a holiday traditionally associated with an excess of sugar and carbs. While you sort of have to accept the latter, you can effectively cut down on the former by swapping out sugary additions for healthier, dried, herbal alternatives.
In the process, you may just find some herbal combinations that work even better than traditional options – especially when it comes to nutrition.
For more tips on how to best utilise our authentic Eastern herbs, please check out our blog.