{"id":701,"date":"2018-01-26T18:15:36","date_gmt":"2018-01-26T18:15:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pastrysampler.com\/blog\/?p=701"},"modified":"2019-07-02T19:42:46","modified_gmt":"2019-07-02T19:42:46","slug":"all-about-blinis-and-blini-pans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pastrysampler.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/all-about-blinis-and-blini-pans.html","title":{"rendered":"All About Blinis and Blini Pans"},"content":{"rendered":"

A blini pan is small diameter cooking pan, similar to a frying pan and a crepe pan. It is used primarily for making mini pancakes called blinis. A ‘pancake’ pan is a blini pan just slightly bigger. What makes this style handy is the pan size is small – which makes all your blinis or mini pancakes all the same size. If you find a pan with more than one mold, it’s even better because you can make multiple blinis at the same time.<\/p>\n

The non-stick ones are multi taskers for eggs or silver dollar sized pancakes, made one at a time.<\/p>\n

If you are wanting to know what a blini even is, traditionally it is a small buckwheat pancake served with caviar. They really are smallish, but since they are typically accompanying an appetizer, a snack, or a desert, they are not meant to be very large.<\/p>\n

Here a description from Wikipedia about blinis<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Blinis were considered by early Slavic people in pre-Christian times to be a symbol of the sun, due to their round form. They were traditionally prepared at the end of winter to honor the rebirth of the new sun (Butter Week, or Maslenitsa, also called “butter week” or “pancake week”). This tradition was adopted by the Orthodox church and is carried on to the present day. Drochena, a kind of blini, was also served at wakes to commemorate the recently deceased.<\/em><\/p>\n


\nTraditional Russian blinis are made with yeasted batter, which is left to rise and then diluted with milk, soured milk, cold or boiling water. When diluted with boiling water, they are referred to as zavarniye bliny. A lighter and thinner form made from unyeasted batter (usually made of flour, eggs, milk or soured milk, kefir, ryazhenka, varenets), is also common in Russia. Traditionally, blinis are baked in a Russian oven. The process of preparing blinis is still referred to as baking in Russian, even though they are nowadays pan-fried, like pancakes. All kinds of flour is used, from wheat and buckwheat to oatmeal and millet, although wheat is currently the most popular.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here’s what a blini pan looks like:<\/p>\n

\"Blini
Single blini pan.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Non-stick blini pan.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Multiple mold blini pan.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Recipe for Buckwheat Blinis<\/h3>\n

Buckwheat is not a grain, but a seed. It is super healthy offering a great source of complex carbohydrates. Although buckwheat blinis are classic, blinis can be made from all purpose or whole wheat flour. Traditional batters call for a sponge with a yeast, which is made the day before, but quick blini batters just call for baking powder. Also, if you have leftovers, keep them in a plastic zipper bag (they are best eaten same day or within a day or two). Reheat by either wrapping in foil and placing in a 350 degree oven for a few minutes until warmed through, or covering with plastic wrap and heating just until warmed – do not overheat in the microwave or they will be mushy when hot and tough when cooled.<\/p>\n

The All-Purpose Baking Book<\/em><\/a> from King Arthur Flour has a great traditional recipe. In the book it says since Russians were not allowed to eat meat during Maslenitsa, they indulged in dairy products and fish. Therefore, caviar served with warm blini and sour cream was a perfect combination.<\/p>\n

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Buckwheat Blini<\/h2>\n
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This recipe makes classic buckwheat blinis, and calls for a sponge to be made the night before. It helps give the blini a tangy flavor that can't be recreated using other methods. It is leavened with yeast.<\/div>\n
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Ingredients
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For the Sponge<\/h4>