Russian Thin Blini
Thin lacy blini made with milk: golden, full of little holes, soft and pliable. Served with sour cream, butter, caviar or jam.
Blini are one of the most beloved dishes of Russian cuisine, a symbol of Maslenitsa and simply a cozy breakfast. Real thin blini come out lacy, full of little holes, and roll or fold easily. The batter is simple and yeast-free, and the main skill is spreading it in a thin even layer across the pan. They go with both sweet and savory fillings.
🧺 Ingredients
🍽 4 servings👩🍳 Method
- 1
Batter base
Whisk the eggs with sugar and salt, pour in half the milk and add the flour, stir until smooth and lump-free.
- 2
Thin the batter
Pour in the rest of the milk and the oil — the batter should be runny, like cream. Add boiling water for extra lace.
- 3
Rest
Let the batter rest 15 minutes so the flour hydrates and the blini do not tear.
- 4
Heat the pan
Heat a crepe pan and grease it with a piece of butter on a fork.
- 5
Cook
Pour a ladle of batter and swirl the pan quickly so it spreads in a thin layer. Cook until the edges brown, flip and brown the other side.
- 6
Serve
Stack the blini, brushing each with butter. Serve with sour cream, jam, honey or caviar.
💡 Tips
- 💡
The first blin almost always fails — that is normal, the pan is still heating up.
- 💡
Grease the pan with only a thin film of butter, or the blini turn greasy and blotchy.
- 💡
Cover the stack of finished blini with a lid so they stay soft.
🔄 Swaps & variations
- 🔄
Stuffed blini: roll them around minced meat, curd cheese or salmon.
- 🔄
Sweet blini: add vanilla to the batter and serve with condensed milk or berries.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
How are Russian blini different from pancakes?
Blini are thin and unleavened and can be rolled around a filling. Pancakes are thick and fluffy. They are different dishes.
Why do my blini tear or stick?
Usually from an underheated pan, too-thin batter or too few eggs. Let the batter rest and heat the pan well.
Where do the holes in blini come from?
The lacy holes come from boiling water or sparkling water added to the batter — it creates steam on the hot pan.
What are blini served with at Maslenitsa?
At Maslenitsa blini are served with sour cream, butter, honey, jam, as well as caviar, fish or curd cheese.