- Scant 1 cup buckwheat flour
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup milk
- 1 large egg, separated
- Vegetable oil, for the pan
- ½ cup creme fraiche
- 4 oz (115g) smoked salmon, cut into 20 strips
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 20 small dill sprigs
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
- Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together into a bowl. Make a well in the center. Add the milk and egg yolk. Whisk until smooth.
- Beat the egg white until it forms soft peaks. Fold the beaten white into the batter.
- Brush a large nonstick frying pan with a little oil and heat over medium heat. Add well-spaced teaspoons of the batter to the pan. Cook about 2 minutes, or until bubbles appear on the surface. Flip the blinis and cook for about 2 minutes more, or until the undersides are browned.
- Top each blini with a spoonful of créme fraîche, a twirl of smoked salmon, a pinch of pepper, and a sprig of dill. Arrange on a platter and serve, with lemon wedges for squeezing.
- Variation:
- Smoked Salmon Corn Cakes:
- Substitute this mixture for the blini batter: sift ½ cup all-purpose flour, ¼ cup yellow cornmeal, ½ tsp baking powder, ¼ tsp salt, and a pinch of cayenne together into a bowl. Add 2/3 cup heavy cream and 2 large egg yolks and whisk until smooth. Add 1 cup fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels, 2 tbsp melted butter, and 2 tbsp chopped chives. Mix well, cover, and let stand for 30 minutes. Cook as above.