Sunday Breakfast: Oladushki

One of the most-viewed and visited posts in my blog is “oladushki”. For those of you who don’t yet know the meaning – it’s Russian name for small pancakes. Yes, it’s absolutely incorrectly to call them blini as many people do (blini are large and thin like crepes, look here), and how they are usually called in restaurants or sold in stores.

This is the perfect breakfast or brunch to spoil yourself with on the weekend, and it could be made in a short time. Russian housewives most of the time use soured or any leftover kefir to prepare these soft beauties. You can try to substitute with buttermilk, drinking but thick yogurt, or as I did – used laban (local dairy drink). Oladushki go well with many sauces: honey, sour cream, sweetened yogurt, jam or sweet condensed milk. You can also serve them as a savory breakfast: with cream cheese or sour cream along with cured salmon or caviar.

Few tips on how to make oladushki soft and fluffy (not only to add a baking soda for leaving):

you should sift the flour (add the air); do not over-mix the batter (it leads to tough texture);

let the batter rest for a half an hour and then do not stir it again (otherwise the bubbles will deflate);

carefully scoop the batter from the side of the bowl – do not dip the spoon into the center;

finally, when you flip oladushki over – do not press it with a spatula.

So, this or next weekend morning that you make these oladushki, make a few extra. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge. And next hectic morning you don’t need to skip breakfast: reheat them, sit down&enjoy and plan for a successful day. 🙂

Sunday Breakfast: Russian Oladushki

Servings: 2-3
Time: 1hr
Difficulty: easy
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I served oladushki with plum preserve and vanilla yogurt.

All ingredients should be at room temperature, so take them out of the fridge 1 hour ahead.

Ingredients

1 medium egg

a pinch of fine salt

1-2 tsp white sugar

250ml kefir (laban or buttermilk), warm

170g plain flour

1/3 tsp baking soda

sunflower or any other veg.oil for frying

Method

In a large mixing bowl, beat an egg with salt and sugar until fluffy. Mix in kefir.
Sift the flour with soda into the batter. Whisk gently until the ingredients are just incorporated. Do not overmix – it leads to tough texture.
Let the batter rest for a half an hour and then do not stir it again (otherwise the bubbles will deflate).
Preheat the frying pan (until a drop of water skitters across the pan), lightly coat with oil.
Carefully scoop the batter from the side of the bowl. When oladushki are dry around the edges and bubbles over the top – turn it over. Don’t press oladushki with a spatula!
Transfer to a large plate in a single layer, keep it uncovered (you may keep them in a warm oven), while preparing the rest.
The best eaten fresh with your favorite sauces. But they also can be covered with a plastic wrap and kept in the fridge until the next morning.

Enjoy!

9 Comments

chef mimi says:

They’re so pretty! Aren’t blini made from buckwheat flour?
April 4, 2016 at 16:42
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- milkandbun says:
  
  It’s not necessary. The main point is that blini are large and thin like crepes, and such fluffy or small are called ‘oladii’, both can be made from any flour. But most of the time they are prepared with plain white flour.
  If you search “blini” in my blog you will get many posts. 🙂
  For example, have a look at this link:
  https://milkandbun.com/2015/02/17/maslenitsa-butter-week-blini-recipe/
  
  Thanks for the interest and comment, Mimi!
  April 6, 2016 at 11:31
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The Gourmet Gourmand says:

I’d love to spoil myself with some of these this weekend 😉 looks just delightful!
April 5, 2016 at 00:46
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- milkandbun says:
  
  You’re sweet as always! Thanks, Sarah! 🙂
  April 6, 2016 at 11:14
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Kristy Rhine says:

These look amazing! It doesn’t help that I am so hungry right now! Lovely photo!
April 5, 2016 at 15:11
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- milkandbun says:
  
  I hope you’d had something delicious after reading the post! 😀 Glad you liked it, hope you will prepare these oladushki for your next breakfast!
  Thanks for taking time and commenting, Kristy!
  April 6, 2016 at 11:25
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Marina says:

since i never tried these Russian pancakes , maybe when my mom makes these pancakes , when i take a bite it will taste really good after all.
February 21, 2018 at 20:53
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- milkandbun says:
  
  Hello! Have you tried to prepare these
  oladushki? how was it?, hope you liked it 🙂
  March 16, 2018 at 12:30
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Zhanna says:

Just made this, delicious!!! just like my grandmother used to make me when I was little
February 1, 2019 at 00:21
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