Description
A delightful appetizer featuring light and fluffy homemade blinis topped with silky smoked salmon, creamy crème fraîche, fresh dill, red onion, and capers, finished with a squeeze of lemon and a dash of black pepper. Perfect for brunch or elegant gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
For Blinis:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg (beaten)
- ¾ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
Toppings:
- 8 ounces smoked salmon (thinly sliced)
- 1 cup crème fraîche (or sour cream)
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill (finely chopped)
- 1 small red onion (finely chopped)
- 1 tablespoon capers (drained)
- 1 lemon (cut into wedges)
- Ground black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the batter: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add in the beaten egg and milk, whisking continuously until you have a smooth batter. Stir in the melted butter.
- Cook the blinis: Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat and add a small knob of butter. Once melted, drop tablespoons of the batter into the pan, ensuring you don’t overcrowd. Cook for about 1-2 minutes on each side or until the blinis are golden brown. Remove and set on a plate covered with a kitchen towel to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining batter.
- Mix crème fraîche and dill: In a small bowl, combine the crème fraîche with half of the chopped dill to create a flavorful spread.
- Assemble the blinis: Spread a small amount of the crème fraîche mixture onto each blini. Place a slice of smoked salmon on top. Garnish with the remaining dill, chopped red onion, and a few capers. Add a twist of black pepper on top.
- Serve: Arrange the blinis on a serving platter with lemon wedges on the side. Encourage guests to give a light squeeze of lemon juice over their blini for an extra zing.
Notes
- Make sure the pan is not too hot to avoid burning the blinis before they cook through.
- You can prepare the batter ahead and refrigerate for up to 1 hour before cooking.
- If crème fraîche is unavailable, sour cream is a suitable alternative.
- For a dairy-free option, substitute crème fraîche with a plant-based alternative.
- These blinis are best served fresh but can be kept warm in a low oven (around 200°F or 90°C) if needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 blinis with toppings
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
