Fast to Make, Fast to Eat

Bliny, Russian pancakes

Pancakes with different snacks (21st Century) by tm agencyFederal Agency for Tourism

Bliny, the Pancakes

A blini (sometimes spelled bliny) is a Russian and Ukrainian pancake traditionally made out of wheat or buckwheat flour. Bliny are served with smetana, tvorog, butter, caviar or other garnishes.

Pancakes with berries (21st Century) by tm agencyFederal Agency for Tourism

They are made and eaten equally fast.

Rowan jam (21st Century) by RustourismFederal Agency for Tourism

A myriad of additions include jam, sour cream, herring or other salty fish, all manner of caviar, hard boiled eggs with onions, and honey.

Pancakes with ice cream and condensed milk by RustourismFederal Agency for Tourism

Some fillings, such as hard boiled eggs, green onion, or cabbage may be fried together with the bliny themselves in a fashion called “pripyok”. 

Vkusnaya Kazan food festival by RustourismFederal Agency for Tourism

Maslenitsa, a traditional Slavic festival, is, without a doubt, the season of bliny, and is celebrated the week before the Lent, which, in turn, will last for 40 days to end in Easter. This festival had a great many customs.

Vkusnaya Kazan food festival by RustourismFederal Agency for Tourism

Some of those survived, including making bliny, visiting friends and family, and engaging in outdoor activities on the last day of the week that culminates in the burning of the Maslenitsy effigy as a way of giving a send-off to winter. 

Pancakes with berries (21st Century) by tm agencyFederal Agency for Tourism

The Maslenitsa week sees restaurants and cafes put together special bliny menus that offer a chance to savour most bliny varieties. 

Credits: Story

Сhief Сonsultant — Ekaterina Drozdova, restaurateur, gastronomic entrepreneur, food and social activist, Photo production — tm agency, Contributors — Proximity Russia, Denis Yershov, Alexandra Grigoryeva

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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