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Home » Recipes » Starters

Russian Pancakes (Blinis) With Smoked Salmon

Published: Feb 8, 2018 · Modified: Dec 6, 2022. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Recipe
Next Tuesday is Pancake day, and instead of preparing pancakes with Maple Syrup, I am making Russian Pancakes with smoked salmon and homemade aioli. #yourguardianchef #pancakerecipe #pancakes #smokedsalmon
Next Tuesday is Pancake day, and instead of preparing pancakes with Maple Syrup, I am making Russian Pancakes with smoked salmon and homemade aioli. #yourguardianchef #pancakerecipe #pancakes #smokedsalmon

Russian pancakes called Blinis are small fluffy savory pancakes usually served as appetizers topped with caviar or smoked salmon and sour cream. They are perfect for dinner parties as they can be hold in one hand and eaten in one bite while holding a Mimosa with your other hand. They are savory pancakes but you can also serve them with a sweet topping such as jam, fresh fruits with whipped cream, or chocolate.

Russian pancakes with smoked salmon and homemade aioli

Jump to:
  • Russian Pancakes and seafood
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Assemble the Blinis with salmon
  • Top tips
  • How to serve Russian Pancakes
  • More salmon recipes
  • 📋 Russian Pancakes (Blinis) with Salmon

Russian pancakes are fluffy, crispy and slightly thicker than general pancakes and can be regular size (4 in - 10 cm) or small (2 in - 5 cm), like a bite-size, very practical for buffets.

The proper recipe for blinis is quite complicated, it requires yeast and whipped egg whites.

This is an easier version of blinis very similar to the regular pancakes and they work very well. Baking powder is used instead of yeast and all the ingredients are mixed together all at once.

simple batter for blinis

Russian Pancakes and seafood

These Russian pancakes are usually served with seafood or caviar, our favorite is smoked salmon. They are delicious also with shrimps, crab meat, smoked mackerel. 

To season it you can use sour cream, mayonnaise, aioli ( see recipe below) or salsa tartar.

They are very popular here in France known with the name Blinis. You can find them already made at any Supermarkets in the seafood section.

If you don't have time, you can buy Blinis and sauces and assemble them just before serving them.

However, they are not difficult to make and fresh blinis taste so much better.

To complement the goodness, make sure you buy a good quality smokes salmon, of course, we buy Irish.

Blini with smoked salmon

Ingredients

These are the ingredients you need for this easy version of blinis:

  • flour: I use all purpose flour (type 00), for a more traditional recipe you can use wheat flour
  • milk: use whole milk for a richer flavor
  • fresh eggs: I have my own chicken and my eggs are always fresh
  • melted butter: let the butter cool down before mixing it into the batter
  • baking powder: to make the pancakes light and fluffy
  • salt: just a pinch
  • light oil for griddle: safflower or canola oil

See recipe card for measurements

Instructions

  1. Blend all the ingredients for the pancakes with an electrical blender.
  2. Put a heavy-based frying pan or an iron griddle over high/medium heat and wait until it is warm before cooking the pancakes
  3. Pour the oil into a small cup and with the use of a brush grease lightly the pan
  4. Pour the batter over the hot griddle making pancakes with 4 in - 10 cm or 2 in - 5 cm in diameter depending on your needs.
  5. Once you see bubbles appearing through the batter, turn the pancakes on the other side.
  6. When the pancakes are done and you removed them from the pan, brush the pan with oil again before pouring more pancakes to cook
Making pancakes

Small blinis (2 in - 5 cm)

If you want to serve the blinis with salmon as an aperitif or for a buffet, it is better to make small blinis. Guests can hold them in their hands and eat them in one bite.

Cooking the small blini

Assemble the Blinis with salmon

  1. Arrange all the blinis on a serving tray
  2. First, lay a slice of salmon then add the seasoning: either sour cream, mayonnaise or aioli
  3. Add a swirl of lemon zest on top
Preparing the blinis

Top tips

  • Before you start making the blinis, make sure all ingredients are at room temperature
  • Make smaller blinis if you want to serve them at a buffet
  • Before you cook the blinis, make sure the griddle is nicely hot
  • If you want to make Aioli with store-bought mayonnaise, just mix it with 1 or 2 minced garlic clove.
Blini Russian Pancake with Salmon

How to make Aioli from scratch

If you don't have time, you can buy the aioli already made, but if you want to make it yourself you can either make it with store-bought mayonnaise or with homemade mayonnaise.

If you never made homemade mayonnaise before, check out my article and you will find all the hints and tips to make a perfect homemade mayonnaise. Before you get started, make sure all ingredients are at room temperature.

  1. In a bowl whisk the egg with salt, pepper and the mustard.
  2. Very slowly add the vegetable oil, in a thin but continuous flow.
  3. Add the lemon juice or the vinegar with the minced garlic at the end
  4. Keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days

If you want to make Aioli with store-bought mayonnaise, just mix it with 1 or 2 minced garlic clove.

homemade mayonnaise on a spoon

How to serve Russian Pancakes

If you are hosting a dinner party you can serve small Russian Pancakes as an appetizer. If you made small blinis you can serve them on a buffet. It will be very easy for guests to help themselves. If you want to make your dinner very special, you can also serve them with caviar, like the Russians.

They should be slightly warm but they are fine at room temperature.

Blinis are a more refined version of the usual crackers and so many ways to serve them. Besides seafood, you can find more ideas in my next article 4 savory pancake ideas for a dinner party.

4 Blinis Toppings For a Dinner Party

More salmon recipes

If you like to serve salmon as a starter I can also suggest a very easy starter: Salmon Tartare or Maki and Uramaki Sushi.

If you want to serve a delicious main dish with salmon, I would highly recommend my salmon, cod and scallops fish pie.

For seafood ideas for the Feast of Seven Fishes, check out this Web Story.

Salmon Tartare Starter

If you are making this Russian pancakes Blinis leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram or sign up to my newsletter.

Blini Russian Pancake with Salmon

📋 Russian Pancakes (Blinis) with Salmon

Russian pancakes are usually served with seafood or caviar, our favourite is smoked salmon and aioli. They are delicious also with shrimps, crab meat, smoked mackerel. To season it you can use sour cream, mayonnaise, aioli or salsa tartar. You can make regular size or bite-size for large dinner parties
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
⏲️Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Print Rate SaveSaved!
Author: Laura Tobin

Ingredients
 
 

For the blinis

  • 1 ½ cup flour type 00 optional Pain multi-céréales
  • 1 ¼ cup milk
  • 1 fresh eggs
  • 2 tablespoon melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 2 tablespoon light oil for griddle (safflower or canola oil)

For the aioli

  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ⅔ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar
  • 1 clove peeled garlic cloves
  • salt & pepper
  • 7 oz smoked salmon good quality
  • 1 lemon zest
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Equipment

  • Mini Measuring Set
  • Measuring mugs
  • Braun blender
  • Silicone Basting Brush
  • Pan for crepes
  • Wooden Turner Set
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Instructions

Make the blinis

  • Blend all the ingredients for the pancakes with an electrical blender.
    1 ½ cup flour, 1 ¼ cup milk, 1 fresh eggs, 2 tablespoon melted butter, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 pinch salt
  • Put a heavy-based frying pan or an iron griddle over high/medium heat and wait until it is warm before cooking the pancakes
  • Pour the oil or butter into a small cup and with the use of a brush grease lightly the pan
    2 tablespoon light oil for griddle
  • Pour the batter over the hot griddle making pancakes 10 or 5 cm in diameter depending on your needs.
  • Once you see bubbles appearing through the batter, turn the pancakes on the other side.
  • When the pancakes are done and you removed them from the pan, brush the pan with oil again before pouring more pancakes to cook

Make the Aioli

  • All ingredients should be at room temperature
    homemade mayonnaise in a bowl eggs in a corner
  • In a bowl whisk the egg with salt, pepper and the mustard. 
    1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
    mix the eggs with the oil
  • Very slowly add the vegetable oil, in a thin but continuous flow.
    ⅔ cup vegetable oil
    mix the eggs
  • Add the lemon juice or the vinegar with the garlic at the end
    2 teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar, 1 clove peeled garlic cloves, salt & pepper
    Homemade mayonnaise
  • Keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days
    homemade mayonnaise on a spoon

Assemble the Blinis

  • Arrange all the blinis on a serving tray
  • First, lay a slice of salmon then add a teaspoon of aioli
    7 oz smoked salmon
  • Add a swirl of lemon zest or capers on top
    1 lemon zest

Video

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Notes

  • Before you start making the blinis, make sure all ingredients are at room temperature
  • Make smaller blinis if you want to serve them at a buffet
  • Before you cook the blinis, make sure the griddle is nicely hot
  • If you want to make Aioli with store-bought mayonnaise, just mix it with 1 or 2 minced garlic clove.

Nutrition

Calories: 367kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 257mg | Potassium: 132mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 235IU | Vitamin C: 1.6mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 1.5mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brian Jones

    February 09, 2018 at 8:41 am

    5 stars
    They sound really delicious, I always fail to remember pancake day and usually get the nod when folk come home from work and tell me on facebook that it is pancake day and they have had their pancakes... Now I am forewarned and am planning some pancakes on Tuesday.

    BTW these look so very good!

    Reply
    • Laura

      February 09, 2018 at 9:55 am

      Thank you Brian, I am sure your wife would love those either for Valentine or pancake day.

      Reply
  2. Deanna

    February 09, 2018 at 2:25 pm

    5 stars
    I do a w bi-weekly Sunday brunch and this would be perfect on a brunch table! I love it!!!

    Reply
    • Laura

      February 10, 2018 at 9:18 am

      That is a great idea and I am sure you have a nice cocktail to serve them with.

      Reply
  3. Ramona

    February 09, 2018 at 3:19 pm

    5 stars
    Blinis are so good and I love them with caviar and any seafood, we actually buy them in France every time we come. There are certain things we always get when we come to France like cheese, fois gras and blinis without a fail.
    I always said I’m going to make my own but this time, that’s it, I know I’m gonna give them a go. Thank you for sharing Laura. Merci beaucoup!

    Reply
    • Laura

      February 10, 2018 at 9:17 am

      Thank you Ramona. Already made blini are very handy to have and if you are very busy it is a good solution. If you make them yourselve you will have more space to buy more cheese or fois grass next time you are in France

      Reply
      • Ramona

        February 10, 2018 at 6:33 pm

        5 stars
        Ha ha - good thinking Laura! Taken on board. Definitely will make my own now 😉

        Reply
        • Laura

          February 11, 2018 at 7:45 am

          I convinced you I guess

          Reply
  4. M

    September 26, 2021 at 4:37 pm

    Sounds delicious, but... What is described here (small, thick pancakes) would be called "blinchiki" in Russia, whereas "blini" are very thin (crepes). Neither would be served with caviar, smoked salmon, or aoili in Russia.

    Reply
    • Laura

      September 27, 2021 at 6:31 am

      Thank you for your feedback, I am very happy to hear the background of the recipes. This blini is how it is done here in France, how interesting that is Russia is totally different. Thank you for adding this information

      Reply

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