Although crêpes have been popular around the for world for
quite some time, there is still confusion over what exactly a crêpe is. So,
what is a crêpe? Is it different from
a pancake? The answers are crêpes are delicious and yes, they are different
from pancakes.
While the two are similar in many ways—they both use eggs,
milk, flour, butter, and a hint of salt—crêpes are much thinner, flatter, and
larger than a pancake. This is largely because pancakes contain baking powder
or baking soda while crêpes contain neither. This is also why pancakes are
fluffier. Because crêpes are thinner, they also tend of be a little crispier
than pancakes.
Crêpes can be traced back to a specific region in France
called Bretagne (or, as we refer to it in English, Brittany). Buckwheat was
introduced to the region in the 12th century and soon after the
first crêpe was born. Today, crêpes can be made with either buckwheat or white
flour, although many crêperies continue to use buckwheat as is tradition.
Now that we know what a crêpe is and where it comes from,
how do you make it? First, there are two categories of crêpes: sweet and
savory. Sweet crêpes are more popular in the United States—IHOP offers Nutella
and banana crêpes, for example—but both are equally delicious. Common fillings
for savory crêpes—which can also be referred to as galettes—often include eggs,
cheese, ham, spinach, mushrooms, onion, etc. while sweet fillings often include
Nutella, fruit with whipped cream, jam, and lemon juice and sugar.
But, regardless of whether you are planning to make savory
or sweet crêpes, the crêpe itself is made the same way. They can be made using
a crêpe pan or a crêpe griddle. Once heated up, melt a
bit of butter on the surface. When the butter has melted, pour the batter and
spread it out evenly using a special T-shaped rake. When the bottom of the crêpe
has turned a nice golden-brown color, flip it and cook until the other side is
also golden-brown. Add your desired toppings, and voila! Crêpe time!
Just as yummy as pancakes and with endless topping
combinations, crêpes take no longer than pancakes to make. Perhaps the next
time you get out the eggs and flour to whip up a batch of batter, give crêpes a
try!
