Fluffy Blini Recipe: Ina Garten’s Breakfast Favorite

Blini, a delicate Russian pancake, offers a sophisticated twist to traditional breakfast fare.

These miniature, pillowy rounds speak volumes about culinary elegance and cultural refinement.

Small yet mighty, blini transform simple ingredients into a canvas for creative toppings.

Soft and light, these pancakes invite playful experimentation with textures and flavors.

Buckwheat and all-purpose flours create a nuanced base that balances earthiness with delicate smoothness.

Buttermilk and eggs contribute richness, while subtle leavening agents ensure a cloud-like consistency.

When prepared thoughtfully, blini become more than mere food – they represent a gastronomic experience that connects tradition and innovation: Get ready to impress.

Blini Tips: Keep Them Light and Golden

• Master Egg White Technique: Whip whites with a clean, dry whisk to achieve perfect stiff peaks that create incredibly light and airy blinis.
• Temperature Control Matters: Maintain low-medium heat on your skillet to ensure golden-brown blinis without burning, which prevents tough or undercooked centers.
• Freshness is Key: Serve blinis right after cooking to enjoy their delicate texture and optimal flavor, preventing them from becoming soggy or losing their crisp edges.
• Topping Adventure: Explore creative combinations like smoked salmon, crème fraîche, caviar, or fresh herbs to transform these small pancakes into elegant appetizers.
• Batter Prep Secrets: Let the batter rest for 30 minutes before cooking to allow flour to absorb liquid, resulting in smoother, more tender blinis with better rise.

Got Leftover Blini? Here’s What To Do

• Vacuum Seal Method: Extract all air using a vacuum sealer to maximize blini preservation. Place blini in specialized vacuum bags, seal completely to prevent freezer burn and maintain optimal texture.
• Layered Freezing Technique: Separate each blini with parchment paper before stacking in freezer containers. This prevents sticking, allows easy individual removal, and maintains crisp edges during storage.
• Moisture Control Strategy: Wrap cooled blini in paper towels before storing to absorb excess moisture. Transfer to airtight containers, ensuring they remain dry and prevent soggy texture during refrigeration or freezing.

Flavorful Twists on Classic Blini Pancakes

• Gluten-Free Blini: Replace wheat flour with almond flour and gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, maintaining the same measurements to create a celiac-friendly version.
• Savory Herb Blini: Add finely chopped chives, dill, or rosemary into the dry ingredients for an aromatic and flavorful pancake that pairs beautifully with smoked salmon or crème fraîche.
• Whole Grain Blini: Substitute half the white flour with whole wheat flour or buckwheat flour to boost nutritional content and create a nuttier, more robust flavor profile.
• Dairy-Free Alternative: Use coconut milk instead of buttermilk and replace butter with vegetable oil or coconut oil, keeping the recipe accessible for those with dairy restrictions.

End Notes on Ina’s Elegant Blini Bites

Blini magic lives in delicate pancakes that whisper culinary sophistication from Russian kitchens.

Ina Garten’s recipe transforms simple ingredients into elegant small rounds with beautiful texture and subtle flavor.

Kitchen explorers can master these pillowy circles through precise technique and patient mixing.

European brunch enthusiasts will adore these miniature delights that complement smoked salmon, caviar, or fresh herbs.

Graceful culinary traditions shine through each carefully crafted round, inviting memorable moments around shared plates.

Culinary adventurers: share this recipe, spark conversations, inspire fellow cooking enthusiasts, and spread blini love across social platforms.

What’s So Fun About Ina Garten’s Blini

• Elevate Brunch with Delicate Pancakes: These blinis offer a sophisticated twist on traditional pancakes, perfect for impressing guests at a weekend gathering or elegant brunch.
• Master a Professional Technique: The recipe teaches a classic French cooking method of creating light, airy pancakes through careful egg white folding and precise cooking technique, making you feel like a professional chef.
• Enjoy Incredible Texture Contrast: Experience the magic of crispy golden edges combined with a cloud-like, pillowy interior that melts in your mouth, creating a delightful sensory experience with every bite.
• Quick Gourmet Preparation: Despite looking fancy, these blinis come together in under 30 minutes, allowing you to create a restaurant-quality dish with minimal effort and basic kitchen skills.

Blini Ingredient List for Your Weekend Brunch

• All-Purpose Flour, Cake Flour: Soft, fine flours that create a delicate and tender blini texture with a light, airy structure.
• Baking Powder: Helps the blini rise and become fluffy, providing a light and soft consistency.
• Sugar: Adds a subtle sweetness and helps with browning of the blini surface.
• Bicarbonate of Soda: Contributes to the leavening process and ensures a soft, even texture.

• Buttermilk: Provides tanginess, moisture, and helps activate the baking soda for better rising.
• Butter: Adds rich flavor and helps prevent sticking during cooking, creating a golden exterior.
• Egg Yolk: Enriches the batter with richness and helps bind the ingredients together.
• Egg Whites: Creates volume and lightness when whipped, giving blinis their signature airy texture.

• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and helps stabilize the whipped egg whites.
• Butter (for pan): Ensures even cooking and prevents blinis from sticking, adding a golden-brown color.

Make These Russian Pancakes Like Ina Does

Step 1: Gather Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Cake flour
• Baking powder
• Sugar
• Baking soda
• Buttermilk
• Unsalted butter
• Egg
• Salt

Step 2: Prepare Dry Ingredients

Sift together flour types, baking powder, sugar, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl. Create a smooth, even mixture by gently stirring with a whisk.

Step 3: Combine Wet Ingredients

In a separate pitcher, whisk buttermilk, melted butter, and egg yolk until thoroughly blended. The mixture should look smooth and consistent.

Step 4: Create Batter Base

Make a small well in the center of dry ingredients. Slowly pour wet mixture into the well in two separate additions. Stir gently until the batter becomes smooth. Use a fine-mesh strainer to remove any potential lumps.

Step 5: Whip Egg Whites

In a clean bowl, use an electric mixer to beat egg whites and salt. Continue mixing until the whites form sturdy, glossy peaks that hold their shape.

Step 6: Fold Egg Whites

Carefully incorporate whipped egg whites into the batter. Add in three gentle stages, using a folding motion to maintain the airiness of the mixture.

Step 7: Prepare Cooking Surface

Place a non-stick frying pan on medium heat. Reduce to low-medium temperature. Lightly brush pan with butter to prevent sticking.

Step 8: Cook Blinis

Pour batter to create small circles approximately 2.3 inches in diameter. Watch for bubbles to form on the surface (about 1-2 minutes). When edges turn golden, carefully flip blinis and cook the opposite side until perfectly done.

Step 9: Serve and Enjoy

Transfer blinis to a serving plate. These delicate pancakes can be topped with various garnishes like smoked salmon, crème fraîche, or caviar.

Ina Garten Blini Recipe

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4.6 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s delicate blini showcase Russian culinary elegance with miniature pancakes perfect for elegant gatherings. Delightful silver dollar-sized treats topped with sour cream and caviar promise a sophisticated appetizer that delights sophisticated palates.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 200 milliliters (6.8 fluid ounces) buttermilk
• 1 egg, separated
• 20 grams (0.7 ounces) melted butter
• 50 grams (1.8 ounces) buckwheat flour
• 25 grams (0.9 ounces) plain all-purpose flour
• Butter for frying

Leavening and Seasoning:

• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon caster or superfine sugar
• 1 pinch bicarbonate of soda
• 1 pinch salt

Serving Accompaniments:

• Sour cream
• Chives
• Crab or caviar
• Lemon jam

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Instructions

1. Combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, and baking soda in a spacious mixing vessel, ensuring even distribution of dry ingredients.
2. In a separate measuring pitcher, thoroughly whisk together buttermilk, unsalted butter (melted and slightly cooled), and single egg yolk until perfectly blended.
3. Create a central depression in the dry ingredient mixture and gradually introduce the liquid components in two separate additions, stirring methodically to achieve a smooth, lump-free consistency. Use a fine-mesh strainer to eliminate any potential flour clusters.
4. Using a clean electric mixer with pristine whisks, beat egg whites and a pinch of salt until they transform into a voluminous, glossy meringue-like texture with pronounced, rigid peaks.
5. Incorporate the whipped egg whites into the primary batter using a delicate folding technique, working in three measured stages to maintain the mixture’s airy structure and prevent deflation.
6. Prepare a non-stick skillet or griddle by heating it over medium temperature, then reducing to a gentle low-medium setting. Lightly grease the cooking surface with a thin layer of butter, ensuring even coverage.
7. Carefully ladle approximately 60 milliliters () of batter onto the heated surface, aiming for circular pancakes around 6 centimeters (2.3 inches) in diameter. Allow cooking until numerous small bubbles emerge across the surface, typically requiring 1-2 minutes.
8. Once the pancake’s edges appear golden and slightly firm, use a spatula to gently flip the pancake, cooking the opposite side until it develops a similar warm, golden-brown hue.

Notes

• Precise egg white whipping creates airy, delicate blinis with incredible lightness.
• Gentle heat control ensures golden-brown edges and perfectly cooked centers without burning.
• Fresh blinis taste best when served straight from the pan, maintaining their warm, soft texture.
• Customize your blinis with creative toppings like smoked salmon, crème fraîche, or sweet berry compotes.
• Practice makes perfect – don’t get discouraged if first attempts aren’t restaurant-quality.

• Prep Time: 13 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Appetizer
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Russian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 92 kcal
• Sugar: 0.4 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 4.5 g
• Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 1.9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 10.6 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 3.3 g
• Cholesterol: 27 mg