Happy New Year! I can’t believe that we are almost to the end of 2016 already! When you live season to season, you really don’t realize where the time has gone. Some of us plan something special to ring in the New Year – perhaps a night full of memorable movies and munchies with lots of popcorn. For much of the world New Year’s Eve is a night of parties and celebrations. Champagne is poured to the brim in cheers and toasts.
For me a glamorous cocktail goes a long way and makes the night. What is more sensational than caviar with blinis alongside your champagne? In my sentiment, it’s a recipe for an enchanted evening, which many of us hope to make New Year’s Eve.
Now, it’s understandable that not all of us can just run to our local shops and pick up an ounce of caviar. The best caviar in the world comes from Russia – Beluga Caviar is not easy to find and may not necessarily be affordable for all. Believe it or not, there are plenty of other options to top your blinis off with. This holiday season I discovered a fabulous deal at World Market for a caviar gift set, which I think is worth a try.
A little on blinis…they are basically little pancakes and originate from Russia, making the combination of world’s best caviar and Russian pancakes divine. Blinis are thin pancake, traditionally made from buckwheat flour and served with sour cream, butter, caviar, and other garnishes. Blinis were considered by early Slavic people in pre-Christian times to be a symbol of the sun, due to their round form. They were traditionally prepared at the end of winter to honor the rebirth of the new sun. Thin layered blini with melted butter makes for a true royal Russian breakfast and would fit beautifully into a New Year’s Day brunch just as well.
So, whatever part of the day you decide to indulge yourself, Caviar with Blini and Champagne would be the utmost decadent choice. Here is how to make it happen:
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted (plus extra for buttering griddle)
pinch of salt
1 ounce caviar
1/2 cup crème fraiche
1 Bottle of Champagne (optional)
Method
- Combine flour, milk, 1/2 cup melted butter and pinch of salt and whisk to combine.
- Preheat griddle or skillet over medium high heat and brush with additional melted butter.
- Pour about a tablespoon of batter onto preheated skillet, flip once brown, and repeat with remaining batter.
- When ready to serve top each with crème fraiche and then caviar distributing evenly over all blini.
- Serve with plenty of champagne or sparkling wine.
