By
delicious. team
These blinis with smoked salmon and dill pâté are the ideal canapé to serve with drinks over the Christmas period.
Ingredients
For the blinis- 55g buckwheat flour
- 110g strong white flour
- 5g easy blend yeast (such as Allinson Easy Bake yeast)
- 160ml crème fraîche
- 160ml milk
- 2 medium free-range eggs, separated
- Sunflower oil to fry
- For the pâté
- 240g good-quality smoked salmon trimmings
- 3 tbsp crème fraîche
- 3 tbsp soured cream
- 1 tbsp creamed horseradish
- Grated zest of ½ lemon, juice of ¼, plus wedges to serve
- 4 cornichons, finely chopped
- Small bunch of fresh dill, chopped, plus a few sprigs to decorate
Method
- 1. Sift the flours and 1 tsp salt into a bowl. Stir through the yeast and make a well in the centre. Gently heat the crème fraîche and milk in a small pan until lukewarm.
- 2. Add the egg yolks to the warmed milk, mix together, then pour into the well. Whisk to form a smooth batter. Cover the bowl with cling film, then leave in a warm place for 45 minutes until thickened and frothy. Whisk the egg whites until they form medium peaks, then fold through the batter.
- 3. Grease the bottom of a heavy-based frying pan with oil and set over a medium heat. Drop tablespoonfuls of the batter, spaced apart, into the hot pan and cook for about 1 minute or until bubbles appear on the top and the underside is golden. Flip over and cook on the other side for another minute. Remove to a plate and repeat in batches with the remaining batter, greasing the pan when necessary. Set aside to cool while you make the pâté.
- 4. Whizz half the salmon trimmings in a mini food processor with the crème fraîche, soured cream and horseradish. (Or mince with a sharp knife, then mix.) Season with lots of freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of salt, then stir through the lemon juice and half the zest. Mix in the rest of the salmon, the cornichons and the dill. Taste and season. 5. Spoon into a bowl, then sprinkle with the remaining zest and the extra dill sprigs. Serve with a platter of blinis and lemon wedges for people to help themselves.
Nutritional info
Per serving(5 each): 227kcals, 14.5g fat (6.3g saturated), 10.5g protein, 13.5g carbs (1.5g sugars), 1.2g salt, 0.8g fibre
Chef's tip
Once cooled, blinis will keep in sealed bags in the fridge for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. If freezing, defrost in the fridge. Wrap batches from the fridge in foil, then warm before serving. Make the pâté up to 1 day in advance, cover with cling film and store in the fridge.
More Christmas recipes
Christmas pudding
Make-ahead recipes
Christmas baking
Vegetarian Christmas recipes
Christmas recipes