By Beleaev Family | International Caviar & Gourmet, Head Office London | beleaev.com
Mini pancakes with caviar are the brunch dish that takes 15 minutes and looks like 45 minutes of work. Light fluffy batter, hot pan, generous crème fraîche, cold caviar pearls. The contrast between warm pancake and cold topping is what makes it work.
Key Takeaways
- Use buttermilk for properly fluffy pancakes
- Cook small (5-6cm), no bigger
- Crème fraîche before caviar, never reverse
- 3-4g of [Oscietra](https://beleaev.com/products/royal-oscietra-caviar-copy) per pancake
- Eat warm, not hot, within 5 minutes
The Ingredients
Makes 16 mini pancakes, serves 4
For the pancakes:
- 150g plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tsp caster sugar
- 200ml buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 30g unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for the pan
For topping:
- 100g full-fat crème fraîche
- 50-60g Royal Oscietra
- 1 tbsp finely sliced chives
The Method
Step 1: Mix the Batter
Whisk dry ingredients together. In a separate bowl whisk the buttermilk, egg, and melted butter. Combine wet into dry and stir until just smooth. Some lumps are fine. Don't overmix.
Step 2: Cook Small
Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add a tiny knob of butter. Drop tablespoons of batter into the pan, around 5-6cm wide. Cook 60-90 seconds until bubbles form on the surface, flip, cook another 45 seconds. Stack on a warm plate.
Step 3: Top and Serve
Top each pancake with a dollop of crème fraîche and 3-4g of Oscietra. Scatter chives. Serve warm.
Tips for Getting It Right
Buttermilk matters. The acid reacts with the bicarbonate to give pillowy lift. Substitute: 200ml whole milk + 2 tsp lemon juice, rest 10 minutes.
Don't overmix. Lumpy batter makes lighter pancakes than smooth batter.
Medium heat. High heat burns the surface before the interior cooks.
Build to order. Pre-built canapés go soggy within 5 minutes.
Variations and Pairings
Buckwheat version: Replace 50g of plain flour with buckwheat flour. Closer to traditional Russian blinis.
With Beluga: Use 30g of Beluga XXL divided across 16 pancakes.
With salmon roe: Use 80g of Wild Salmon Roe for the bigger orange pearls and lower price.
Wine pairing: Champagne or chilled Russian vodka.
For more brunch ideas, see classic blinis with caviar and caviar eggs benedict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pancakes vs blinis?
Blinis use buckwheat flour and yeast for slow-rise nutty flavour. Pancakes use baking powder and plain flour for quick-rise neutral flavour. Both work for caviar.
Can I make ahead?
Cook pancakes up to 1 hour ahead, keep warm at 80C in the oven loosely covered. Beyond an hour, the texture suffers.
How many pancakes per person?
4 mini pancakes per person at a brunch. Each topped with 3-4g of caviar.
Why are my pancakes flat?
Probably old baking powder or bicarbonate. Both lose potency over 6 months. Replace if your tin is older.
Further Reading
Mini pancakes with caviar on a Sunday morning is one of those brunches that turns a quiet weekend into something special. Discover Beleaev's caviar collection at beleaev.com.
Beleaev is an international caviar and gourmet house headquartered in London, with fulfilment hubs across the UK, Europe, the UAE, and the United States. We deliver responsibly farmed Beluga, Oscietra, Sevruga, and Kaluga caviar to customers in each region within 24 to 48 hours.
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