- 1/3 cup crème fraîche or sour cream
- 2 tablespoons very thinly sliced scallions, divided
- 3 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest, divided
- 1/4 cup buckwheat flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 2 ounces caviar, such as trout caviar or salmon roe (see Cooks' Notes)
- Stir together crème fraîche and 1 tablespoon of the scallions.
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large non-stick skillet over low heat and scrap into a small bowl. Whisk in milk, egg, and 1 teaspoon zest. Add flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt and whisk until smooth.
- Melt half of remaining butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat.
- Drop 6 rounded teaspoons of batter into skillet and cook until tiny bubbles form on the surface, edges appear dry, and undersides are golden, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Flip and cook until golden and cooked through, about 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
- Melt remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter in skillet and make 6 more blinis (you will have a little batter left over).
- To serve, top blinis with a small dollop of scallion crème fraîche and some caviar, then sprinkle with remaining lemon zest and scallion.