Recipe
Russian blini (BLEE-nee), singular is blin, made with a yeast-raised buckwheat flour batter, have a nutty flavor. They symbolize the sun and take center stage at maslenitsa (also known as Butter Week, Pancake Week or Cheesefare Week), a spring festival marking the end of winter. Today, blini are prepared hundreds of ways -- with white flour only, cornmeal, sweet, savory, you name it. And their accompaniments have gone beyond the traditional caviar, smoked salmon, minced onion, chopped eggs, sour cream and a sip or two of vodka. This recipe is for traditional buckwheat Russian blini.

Makes about 24 Russian Blini
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:

2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup buckwheat flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon instant yeast (not rapid-rise)
1 cup warm milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 egg, separated
Toppings of choice

Preparation:

In a large bowl, mix flours, salt and instant yeast, and make a well in the center.

Pour in milk, mixing until smooth. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.

Stir cooled melted butter and egg yolk into batter. In a separate bowl, whisk egg white until stiff but not dry. Fold into batter. Cover and let stand 20 minutes.

Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Drop quarter-size dollops of dough into pan without crowding. Cook for about 1 minute or until bubbles form and break. Turn and cook for about 30 seconds. Cover blini and keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter.

Serve with toppings of choice: red or black caviar, smoked salmon or other fish, chopped hard-cooked eggs, minced red or white onion, sour cream or creme fraiche, chopped dill and lemon wedges.

NOTE: The recipe has been adjusted to 1 cup warm milk and is correct as it now stands.

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