Ingredients
For the blinis
225g/4oz buckwheat/wholewheat flour
225g/4oz plain flour
pinch salt
2 free-range eggs, plus 2 free-range egg whites
45g/1½oz fresh yeast
2 tsp caster sugar
700ml/1 pint 5fl oz warm milk
1 tbsp melted butter
vegetable oil, for frying
For the topping
4 red peppers, roasted, peeled, seeds removed
225g/4oz soured cream
1 tbsp creamed horseradish from a jar
1 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon
½ lemon, juice only
12 black olives
freshly ground black pepper
Method
1. For the blinis, sift the buckwheat (or wholewheat) flour and plain flour into a bowl and mix with a pinch of salt.
2. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and add the two whole eggs and one of the egg whites. Whisk from the centre outwards to create a thick paste.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the yeast, sugar and milk and leave to stand for a couple of minutes.
4. Gradually pour the yeast mixture into the flour and egg mixture, whisking constantly, to make a smooth batter.
5. Add the melted butter and stir well.
6. Cover the bowl with clingfilm and leave in a warm place for one hour.
7. Just before cooking the blinis, whisk the remaining egg white in a clean bowl until light, then fold into the batter.
8. Heat a little oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Pour enough batter into the pan to make a 10cm/4in diameter blini.
9. When bubbles start to appear on the surface of the batter, turn the blini over and cook the other side.
10. Remove the blini from the pan and keep warm while you make the rest of the blinis in the same way.
11. For the topping, slice the roasted red peppers into strips.
12. Spoon the soured cream, horseradish, tarragon and lemon into a bowl and mix well.
13. Spoon one tablespoon of the cream mixture onto each blini and top with some of the red pepper pieces.
14. Top each blini with an olive and season with freshly ground black pepper.
