Food divides and brings together. Beyond moral identity and taboo, food represents unique cultural identity. However, food identity has distinct differences when one compares the perceptions of the outside and inside groups. This is an important field of st
udy, that give special insight into the psychology behind choice and association.”Increasingly, studies about how food is narrated through the media are beginning to occupy an important place in the social sciences.” (Alymbaeva, 108) Foods are adopted across cultures, albeit with their own modifications. For example, tomatoes are not native to Italy, but were brought from the Americas. Likewise, Japanese tempura is from Portuguese missionaries. Food reflects history, and therefore brings with it a personal sort of association and cultural meaning. Russian food is stereotypically borsch and vodka. And yet, it seem much more Russian to eat blinchki.
The idea that food can bring together one culture and distance it from another is symbiotic with the previous ideas about taboo and ritual. For example, horse meat is commonly eaten in Kazakhstan and is commonly seen as immoral or impure to more western cultures such as the United States of America. Traditional dishes from different soviet cultures, and particularly those in Central Asia, can be difficult to find and are still an area of study. This is partly do to the nature by which cultural foods were portrayed and thought of in the Soviet Union. (Alymbaeva, 111-112)
In today’s society, it seems that food trends change exceedingly fast due to the influence of social media and the internet more broadly. Surely the potential commercialization by various companies also contributes to this phenomena. ‘New’ foods become trendy and quickly the food spreads across the nation. In the very least, this has been my experience.
I have had Blini before, but only sweet versions with jam or nutella and half the time with tea. Blinichki are very malleable to different food groups. They are something in between a tortilla and a pancake. The most accurate comparison would probably be the crepe. The recipe I chose for this post includes many different choices. You should pick depending on your preference.
Blinchki Ingredients:
- 350 grams or 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour See notes below for substitutions
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 eggs (see notes below for substitutions)
- 800 ml or 3 1/3 cups milk warmed (see notes below for substitutions)
- 100 ml or 1/2 cups cream for lower calories intake use warm water
- 5 tablespoons melted butter for lower calories intake use warm water instead
- sunflower oil or canola oil to fry
Instructions
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In a large bowl, mix flour, salt, sugar and baking soda. Add eggs, milk, cream and melted butter. Use a whisk attachment of your mixer or food processor to mix the batter until smooth. The consistency of the batter should be a bit thicker than cream with no lumps.
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Heat two pans over high heat. Pour a tiny bit of sunflower oil in both pans (you can use a silicon brush to spread it). Use a scoop or a ladle to pour the batter in the middle of the pan. Acting quickly, tilt the pan from side to side while pouring, forming a circle with the batter.
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Flip the pancake over with a thin spatula, after the surface looks porous and sides are golden. Fry for half of the time you fried the first side. Repeat with the rest of the batter.
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You might want to put them in the warm oven (not warmer then 70 °C/160 °F) to keep them hot before serving. Enjoy!
To view full recipe, click here.
Sources:
Alymbaeva, Aida Aaly. “Nations of Plov and Beshbarmak Central Asian Food and National Identity on the Internet.” The Muslim World, vol. 110, no. 1, 2020, pp. 107–125, https://doi.org/10.1111/muwo.12321.
Szeliga, Elena. “Traditional Russian Pancakes (Blinchiki) • Happy Kitchen.” Happy Kitchen, 27 July 2023, happykitchen.rocks/ultimate-russian-pancakes/.
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