Kaiserschmarrn

Kaiserschmarrn(German pronunciation:[ˈkaɪzɐˌʃmaʁn]) orKaiserschmarren(German:[ˈkaɪzɐˌʃmaʁən];'Emperor's Mess')is a lightly sweetenedpancakethat takes its name from the Austrian emperor (Kaiser)Franz Joseph I, who was fond of this fluffy shredded pancake. It is served as a dessert or as a light lunch alongside apple sauce and contains raisins or dried cranberries.
Kaiserschmarrnis a popularmealordessertinAustria,Bavaria, and many parts of the formerAustro-Hungarian empire, e.g.Hungary,Slovenia,Czech Republic, northernCroatiaand westernRomania, which usually use the name as a loan word or translations of it. InSlovenia, it is calledcesarski praženecoršmorn. ItsHungarianname iscsászármorzsaorsmarni;itsCzechname is(Císařský) trhanecorkajzršmorn. InSlovakit is calledCisársky trhanec; ItsRomanianname isșmoră.
The nameKaiserschmarrnis a compound of the wordsKaiser('emperor') andSchmarren(a scrambled or shredded dish).Schmarrenis also a colloquialism used inAustrianandBavarianto mean'trifle, mishmash, mess, rubbish, nonsense'. The wordSchmarrenmay be related toscharren('to scrape') andschmieren('to smear'[seeschmear]).
Kaiserschmarrnis a light, caramelizedpancakemade from a sweet batter usingflour,eggs, sugar, salt, andmilk, fried inbutter.Kaiserschmarrncan be prepared in different ways. When makingKaiserschmarrntheegg whitesare usually separated from theyolkand beaten until stiff; then the flour and the yolks are mixed with sugar, and the other ingredients are added, including:nuts,cherries,plums, apple jam, or small pieces of apple, orcaramelizedraisinsand sliveredalmonds. The latter ingredients (nuts, cherries, plums, apple jam, or small pieces of apple, orcaramelizedraisins and chopped almonds) are not part of the original recipe, but additions made by cooks based on their personal preferences. The original recipe only includes rum-soaked raisins.
The pancake is shredded using two forks during frying and usually sprinkled with powdered sugar, then served hot with apple or plum sauce or various fruitcompotes, including plum,lingonberry, strawberry, or apple.Kaiserschmarrnis eaten like a dessert, or it can also be eaten for lunch at tourist places like mountainside restaurants and taverns in theAustrian Alps, as a filling meal.
Traditionally,Kaiserschmarrnis accompanied withZwetschgenröster, a fruit compote made out of plums.
A number of varieties exist, includingErdäpfelschmarrn(with potatoes),Äpfelschmarrn(with apples) orKirschschmarren(with cherries), usually prepared on an open fireplace of a so-calledRauchkuchl.
It is generally agreed that the dish was first prepared for the AustrianEmperor Francis Joseph I(1830–1916). There are several stories. Oneapocryphalstory involves the Emperor and his wife,Elisabeth of Bavaria, of theHouse of Wittelsbach. Obsessed with maintaining a minimal waistline, Empress Elisabeth directed the royal chef to prepare only light desserts for her, much to the dismay and annoyance of her notoriously austere husband. Upon being presented with the chef's confection, she found it too rich and refused to eat it. The exasperated Francis Joseph quipped, "Now let me see what 'Schmarren' our chef has cooked up." It met his approval as he finished his and even his wife's serving.
Another popular tale is that his wife was a poor cook and was not adept at flipping a pancake. She decided to play to her strengths and shred the pancakes instead and would serve them up to the Kaiser regularly with jam. He liked them with jam. It was his favorite dessert.