Pea soup and Pancakes!

Thursday lunch in Sweden means only one thing... Pea soup and Pancake day (ärtsoppa och pannkakor)!

I've heard from co-workers that this has been a Swedish lunch tradition since the middle ages. It's history apparently comes from when Catholic Swedish kitchens served large meals on Thursdays to prepare for fasting on Friday. Being cheap and easy to make in large portions, pea soup and pancakes were a good option. When Sweden adopted Lutheranism as it's main religion later, the soup and pancakes tradition continued. Co-workers have also said it's a Military tradition eating both the soup and the pancakes (ärtsoppa och pannkakor). Swedes used to have mandatory military service.

This hearty, warm pea soup is made from yellow peas and can include pieces of pork and ham. You can even add a little mustard on top with some dried thyme for extra flavor. It is often found on Dagenslunch of "husmanskost" menus those traditional, home-cooked dishes found at typical Swedish restaurants. At some restaurants and even the grocery store, you can get vegetarian pea soup. If you get the soup  at the grocery store, it will come in a tube shape like many other food items in the grocery store.

Pea soup tubes and rice porridge tubes! 

I’m not really a fan of the pea soup but I used to love the pancakes! I remember really looking forward to Thursday lunch at the work cafeteria!  

Swedish or European style pancakes are thin like a crepe but doughy unlike the thick American kind.

Instead of topping the pancakes with butter and maple syrup like the thicker North American pancakes, these pancakes are topped with whip cream and some kind of jam. Strawberry and Raspberry are popular choices. I've also seen friends put ice cream or Nutella on them! So delish. 

Some restaurants in the Gothenburg, like Golden Days, even offer all you can eat pancakes on Thursdays! (Pre-pandemic we used to go often!) 

Eatery Lumapark offers Pea soup and pancakes on Thursdays!

Happy Thursday and if you're in Sweden and eating Dagenslunch out or lunch at home, enjoy some pea soup and pancakes today! The pancakes by themselves can make a great snack ;) 

Don't forget your snacks!