Online – An unusual retro pancake soup recipe dating back to 1975 has gone viral, stirring up a lively discussion about comfort food traditions and culinary creativity. The recipe, discovered in a decades-old community cookbook, calls for pancakes fried in bacon fat to be cut into strips and served in a savory broth, a surprising twist that has intrigued many while baffling others.
The recipe titled “pancake soup” was originally created by Johanna Rhodes and promises to serve eight people. It was shared recently on the popular subreddit r/Old_Recipes by user “_Alpha_Mail_”, igniting a flurry of reactions from food lovers and skeptics alike.
The Origins of a Surprising Comfort Food
The recipe instructs frying nutmeg-seasoned batter on a griddle greased with bacon fat, cooling the thin pancakes, slicing them into quarter-inch strips, and then adding them to a broth made from bouillon cubes. While the concept might sound unusual to many, this dish closely resembles flädlesuppe or aritatten, a traditional German and Austrian soup made using leftover thin pancakes or crêpes served in broth.
- The dish is especially popular in the southwestern Swabian region.
- It is considered a budget-friendly, comforting way to transform leftovers into a warm meal.
- Some modern fans appreciate the creativity and convenience that the recipe offers.
Community Reactions: Intrigued, Skeptical, and Appreciative
The Reddit post has garnered mixed responses, showcasing a spectrum of opinions:
- Some users dismissed the idea, preferring to eat pancakes and broth separately.
- Others saw it as an innovative way to use up leftover pancakes, likening the pancake strips to noodles.
- Several commenters questioned the appeal of combining bacon-greased pancakes with bouillon-based broth.
- Many drew parallels to flädlesuppe, reaffirming its status as a traditional European comfort food.
- Others recommended enjoying the soup immediately to prevent the pancakes from becoming mushy.
“I will say the title of this recipe grabbed me. At first I thought this was going to be pancake noodles and the ‘broth’ would be like milk, sugar and fruit. But then I realized… this is an actual broth with pancake noodles,” shared the Reddit user who posted the recipe.
Expert Insight and Culinary Context
Jessica Randhawa, a California-based chef and food blogger at The Forked Spoon, weighed in on the recipe, suggesting it might be a “quick and easy shortcut” version of traditional flädlesuppe. Her family encountered the dish during a 2023 trip across Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, where her then-9-year-old son developed a fondness for the soup.
Randhawa believes the recipe could have reached the U.S. through European immigrants or recreated by those inspired after tasting the dish abroad.
“Traditional flädlesuppe is generally made with leftover crêpes, but you would want to add them to the hot broth at the time of eating. Yet, as with most multipart recipes, if you have a goal of making it like Johanna Rhodes did, you would make all the parts at once,” she explained.
She also noted that she would use homemade bone broth if recreating the recipe, highlighting its potential to be delicious even with bouillon cubes and bacon grease.
Tips for Enjoying Pancake Soup Today
Reddit users and culinary enthusiasts have offered several suggestions to adapt and enjoy the pancake soup recipe:
- Use store-bought crêpes or pancakes to save time.
- Experiment with various broths, including tomato or beef stock, to enhance flavor.
- Add fresh herbs for a more vibrant taste.
- Serve the soup immediately to preserve the texture of the pancake strips.
One contributor even remarked on the soup’s versatility: “The pancakes make for very fluffy noodles that soak up the soup deliciously.”
Why This Vintage Recipe Matters Today
The debate around this vintage comfort food underscores the creativity found in traditional dishes and the evolving definitions of comfort food. It also highlights how old recipes can inspire modern cooks to experiment while appreciating cultural culinary histories.
As food traditions travel and transform, recipes like Johanna Rhodes’ pancake soup invite us to explore new flavor combinations, reimagine leftovers, and connect with diverse food legacies.
What Do You Think About Pancake Soup?
Have you ever tried a savory dish made with pancakes like this one? Could this retro recipe become your new comfort food favorite? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
