"Blinis" - Savory Buckwheat Pancakes

Shrovetide (or “maslenitsa” in Russian) is celebrated in the last week before Christian Orthodox Great Fast, seven weeks before Easter. Shrovetide is the holiday preserved by Slavic peoples from pagan (pre-Christian) times. Those days it was called differently when just like many other nations, ancient Slavs had traditional feast associated with winter wires and meeting of spring. At the time this feast was associated with the name of Veles - god of fertility and livestock in ancient Slavs pantheon. This holiday represented awakening of nature from winter sleep and marked beginning of the work in the fields. Also, feast table must have been plentiful and very hearty as it was meant to manifest the hope for the harvest year. Time of this holiday has always been cheerful and it was believed those who refuse to be merry would end up living “in bitter trouble” for the rest of the year.

After adoption of Christianity in Russia, this holiday has remained a special time of the year, even though it was considered peoples rather than Church holiday. During 16th century name “maslenitsa” got firmly attached to this fun season which lasts seven days. Church statutes prohibited eating of meat during these days and only dairy (including butter) and eggs were allowed. Main staple of the “maslenitsa” food were pancakes. Last meat leftovers from the slaughter of livestock before Christmas were cooked and consumed on last Sunday before “maslenitsa” (so called “Carvery Sunday”). It was a customary for every father-in-law to invite his son-in-law to “finish up the lamb” on the last Sunday before Shrovetide. That was also the day to visit relatives, friends and neighbors.

Shrovetide has always been a happy and much anticipated time. It had all kinds of nicknames – fair, broad, bold, fat, cheese week. Carnival lasts seven days and each of them has its own special name and meaning.

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 cup buckwheat flour
• 1 cup wheat flour
• 1 Tbs. yeast powder
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 cup warm milk
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup fresh or sour cream
• 1 Tbsp. butter, melted 
• a pinch of salt

Directions:

Add a little warm milk, and sugar to the yeast and put aside. Break the eggs and separate the yolks from the whites. Sieve together the two kinds of flour over a bowl, and make a well in the centre. Add a pinch of salt and the yolks of the eggs and mix with a wooden spoon. Carefully pour in the milk and yeast mixture and work together till you have the consistency of a thick pancake. Allow to rise for 2 hours.

Meanwhile whip the cream and beat the whites of eggs till stiff. Add the whites of eggs and then the whipped cream to the dough. Add the butter and set aside for another 15 minutes.

Lightly grease the bottom and sides of your small pan with a thick base. Pour in the dough, using a ladle, so as to cover the bottom. Cook like ordinary pancakes, turning ones. Serve hot with slices of finely cut smoked salmon or red or black caviar.

Source:

http://www.melangery.com/2014/02/russian-monday-blinis-savory-buckwheat.html