Scrapple is an unusual comfort food that has existed since the middle ages. When the Germans brought it over, the Pennsylvania Dutch were able to keep this tradition alive as time moved forward. This meaty dish has a reputation for its unusualness because of what it’s made of. If you’re curious about what that might be, then read more here to learn about the history behind scrapple and how you can make it yourself.
History of Scrapple Day
Scrapple is a dish made out of the leftover butchering of different animals such as pigs, chickens, and cows, more specifically the entrails and internal organs, which are boiled, minced and mixed with cornbread, wheat flour, and spices. It is then made into a loaf, sliced, and pan-fried. Scrapple has its origins in medieval Europe by the Germans, it then came over through the Pennsylvania Dutch, who called the dish panhaus, which translated to “pan rabbit”. Scrapple is known as a mid-Atlantic local food, served as an ethnic food of the Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish.
While scrapple is available in the mid-Atlantic region, a solid 85% of people in the region say they won’t eat it because of what it’s made of. Scrapple, even if its made out of the scraps of livestock, can be tasty for the adventurous of heart. Scrapple Day was made to help convince people to be adventurous in their food while also help people learn about its history. While the dish itself can be made with a wide variety of ingredients, it is traditionally made with the leftovers of pigs and spiced with herbs like sage, black pepper, and thyme. It can be adjusted to whatever meat you want, whatever filling you want, and whatever spices you think would work.
How to Celebrate Scrapple Day
If you want to learn how to make scrapple, here’s a recipe you can follow; Take one pound lean pork and boil it until it is cooked. Then mix together three cups of cornmeal, one chopped onion, one and a half teaspoons of salt, one tablespoon of pepper, one teaspoon of ground sage. Then add the cooked meat and three quarts of water until it is a mushy paste. Once thoroughly mixed together, mold into a loaf and put into the fridge for about an hour.
Once it is molded together, then slice a piece from the loaf and pan fry it in a skillet on medium heat with a dash of olive oil until golden brown. If you find scrapple to be a lot more delightful than its reputation, then share this holiday on your favorite social media websites and use the hashtag #scrappleday.