Blini

Blini (also blinis or bliny; Russian: блины; sg. blin; Russian: блин) are Russian pancakes, often made with a yeast-raised batter of buckwheat and/or wheat flour and milk. They may be served with smetana, cottage cheese, caviar and other garnishes, or simply smeared with butter. They are a traditional dish in Russian cuisine.

In the English language, blini traditionally refers to small savory pancakes made with leavened batter. In modern Russian, the term most often refers to pan-sized leavened thin pancakes, although smaller leavened pancakes are also called blini. Smaller and thicker pancakes (with several of them baked on one larger pan) are called oladyi.

Blintzes, called blinchiki ('little blinis') in Russian, are an offshoot of blini or crêpes. They are basically rolls based on thin pancakes usually made of wheat flour, folded to form a casing for various kinds of filling, typically cheese, fruit, or (in Russian cuisine) pre-fried minced meat, and then sautéed or baked.