Blini Pancakes
This Russian side builds buckwheat and yeast into a fuss-free meal you can have ready in about 85 minutes. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 13 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and pan. At medium difficulty across 13 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (2)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
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How to make it
- In a large bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup buckwheat flour, 2/3 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon yeast.
- Make a well in the center and pour in 1 cup warm milk, whisking until the batter is smooth.
- Cover the bowl and let the batter rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
- Enrich and Rest the Batter
- Stir 2 tablespoons melted butter and 1 egg yolk into the batter.
- In a separate bowl, whisk 1 egg white until stiff, but not dry.
- Fold the whisked egg white into the batter.
- Cover the bowl and let the batter stand 20 minutes.
- Pan-Fry the Blini
- Heat butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
- Drop quarter-sized dollops of batter into the pan, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for about 1 minute or until bubbles form.
- Turn and cook for about 30 additional seconds.
- Remove the finished blini onto a plate and cover them with a clean kitchen towel to keep warm. Add more butter to the pan and repeat the frying process with the remaining batter.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Pan · Whisk
Watch how it's made
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Ingredient substitutions
- Milk
- any unsweetened plant milk · ½ cup evaporated milk + ½ cup water
- Butter
- olive oil (¾ the amount) · coconut oil · margarine
What to serve with Blini Pancakes
- Beef stroganoff Beef
- Cabbage Soup (Shchi) Vegetarian
- Fish Soup (Ukha) Seafood
- Potato Salad (Olivier Salad) Vegetarian
Tips & common questions
How long does Blini Pancakes take to make?
About 85 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 13 steps and 7 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of milk?
Try any unsweetened plant milk. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Blini Pancakes vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Recipe data for Blini Pancakes via TheMealDB (open database). ▶ Video. Original source. Consomee adds the scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.