When it comes to culinary sophistication and luxury, beluga lentil caviar served atop delicate blini pancakes is a dish that truly embodies both elegance and flavor. Made from the small, dark lentils of the beluga variety, this caviar is known for its distinctive nutty taste and delicate texture, while the blini provide a soft and fluffy base that perfectly complements the caviar's rich and briny notes. With its origins in Russia, beluga lentil caviar has become a global delicacy, savored by food connoisseurs worldwide.
Here are our top 10 tried and tested recipes!
BELUGA LENTIL CAVIAR ON BLINI
Provided by Roberto Martin
Categories Appetizer Cocktail Party Vegetarian Wedding Legume Lentil Shower Healthy Vegan Sugar Conscious Kidney Friendly Pescatarian Peanut Free Kosher
Yield Makes 18 blini
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Make the beluga lentil caviar: Rinse the lentils and put them in a small pot with the water. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes, or until the lentils are soft.
- Drain the cooked lentils and place them in medium bowl. Add the salt, capers, and caper brine. Mix well and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours, and a maxi¬mum of 2 days.
- Make the vegan sauce: Mix the vegan mayonnaise with the Miso Mayo in a small bowl and refrigerate until needed.
- Make the blini: In a medium bowl, combine the flours and baking powder. Whisk the nondairy milk and melted butter into the flour until a batter forms. Allow the batter to rest a few minutes.
- Heat a large nonstick pan over medium heat. Add a small dab of butter to the pan or spray it with nonstick cooking spray. To form each blin, pour a little more than a tablespoon of batter into the pan. You can usually cook 4 to 6 blini at a time. Wait until the pancakes begin to show air bubbles all over the tops and the bottoms are brown. Flip the blini over and cook until golden brown.
- Using the back of a spoon, spread a small amount of the Vegan Sour "Cream" on each blin, add a teaspoon of the beluga lentil caviar, and top with a pinch of minced chives. Serve immediately.
BLINI WITH CAVIAR AND YOGURT TOPPING
After making these blini, I always have a little of the topping left over; I use it for sandwiches. Don't use expensive caviar here -- lumpfish is fine.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories appetizer
Time 10m
Yield Enough to top one batch of blini
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place the onion in a bowl and cover with cold water. Let sit for five minutes, then drain and rinse with cold water. Drain on paper towels.
- Place the yogurt in a bowl, and stir in the onion, chopped eggs, chives and caviar. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Warm the blini in a low oven or in a microwave. Top each with a spoonful of the yogurt mixture and serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 183, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 14 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 11 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 330 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams
BRAISED BLACK LENTILS
Braised black lentils, also known as beluga lentils, since they resemble the most prized of all caviar varieties, make up one of my favorite side dishes.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Side Dish Beans and Peas
Time 1h
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Melt butter in olive oil over medium heat in a saucepan. Cook and stir onion, carrot, celery, and salt until vegetables are softened and onion is translucent, about 10 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and add thyme sprigs and pepper. Stir in lentils until well coated. Add chicken stock and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Reduce heat to low, cover and cook, checking occasionally, until the lentils are tender and have absorbed all the liquid, about 35 minutes. Remove from heat and discard thyme stems. Stir in champagne vinegar and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 499.7 calories, Carbohydrate 68 g, Cholesterol 15.9 mg, Fat 14.3 g, Fiber 31.8 g, Protein 26.6 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 698.3 mg, Sugar 6.2 g
BLINI WITH CAVIAR
These traditional Russian pancakes are best with authentic garnishes: a dab of creme fraiche and a spoonful of caviar.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Appetizers
Time 1h40m
Yield Makes about 4 dozen
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Sprinkle yeast over water. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Stir together flour and 1/2 teaspoon plus a pinch of salt. Stir together buttermilk, butter, sugar, and egg yolks in a large bowl; whisk in yeast mixture, then flour mixture. Let stand, covered, in a warm place for 30 minutes.
- Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into batter. Let stand for 10 minutes.
- Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat, and coat with a thin layer of butter. Add a scant tablespoon batter for each blin (about 6 or 7 per skillet), and cook, flipping after bubbles appear at edges and color turns golden, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a parchment-lined tray, andlet cool for 30 minutes. Garnish with creme fraiche and caviar.
BLINI WITH MUSHROOM CAVIAR
In Russian kitchens, mushroom caviar is made with cooked mushrooms and lots of sour cream. I use canned tomatoes in this version, and the result makes a savory topping for blini (and for latke, I found, as I tested the recipe during Chanukah). Make sure to finely chop the mushrooms.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories appetizer
Time 45m
Yield 12 blini toppings, four to six as a side dish
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot. Cook, stirring, until tender, three to five minutes. Add the mushrooms. Cook, stirring, until they begin to sweat, and add the garlic, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often over medium heat, for five minutes until the mushrooms are tender and fragrant. Add the tomatoes, and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice, and taste and adjust the seasonings. There should be very little liquid in the pan. If there is, continue to simmer uncovered until most of the liquid has evaporated. Stir in the dill, and serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 85, UnsaturatedFat 3 grams, Carbohydrate 10 grams, Fat 4 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 245 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams
BELUGA LENTIL CAVIAR ON BUCKWHEAT BLINIS
Provided by Irene McGuinness
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- In fine-meshed sieve, rinse lentils, removing any tiny stones and debris. In small saucepan, bring 2 cups (500 mL) water and 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt to a boil. Add rinsed lentils. Reduce heat to medium and cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes, or just until lentils are tender but still hold their shape. It's best to be slightly undercooked. Drain well and transfer to medium-sized bowl. Add red pepper and onion and gently fold together. Set lentils aside to cool while making blinis.
- In medium-sized bowl, combine all-purpose and buckwheat flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir to blend. In small bowl, whisk together milk, egg, oil and lemon juice. Add to dry ingredients and stir until smooth.
- Line baking sheet with parchment and set aside. Lightly brush large nonstick frying pan with a little oil. Heat pan over medium just until a drop of water bounces when added.
- Drop batter, 1 Tbsp (15 mL) at a time, into hot frying pan, leaving space in between. You want batter thin enough so each blini will spread out to about 2 in (5 cm) in diameter as it cooks. If batter appears too thick, whisk in a tiny splash of additional milk.
- Cook blini until bubbles form on the surface, about 1 to 2 minutes. Then flip with thin spatula and continue to cook for 1 more minute, until light golden brown. Transfer to lined baking sheet in single layer. Add a piece of parchment between layers as needed. Cover and set aside. Blinis can be refrigerated up to a day.
- To serve, top blinis with equal amounts of yogurt, lentil mixture, capers, a pinch of za'atar, and a sprinkling of chives.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 36, Protein 1g, Fat 1g, Carbohydrate 5g, Sugar 1g, Sodium 73mg
BELUGA LENTIL 'CAVIAR' WITH POTATO BLINI
Beluga lentils are so named because they resemble beluga caviar, and some creative vegetarian cooks have used them in recipes that play off the resemblance -- and make them taste a little like caviar, too.
Provided by Adapted from "
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- 1 For the "caviar": Rinse the lentils
- 2 Combine them with the water, kombu and salt in a small pot over medium-high heat
- 3 Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat so the mixture is barely bubbling around the edges; cover and cook until the lentils are just tender, 20 to 25 minutes
- 4 Allow the lentils to cool in the liquid
- 5 Discard the kombu, then drain the lentils and stir in the olive oil
- 6 For the blini: Combine the potato, water and butter in a microwave-safe dish; cover and microwave on HIGH for 6 minutes, until the potato is tender
- 7 Cool
- 8 Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a large mixing bowl
- 9 Whisk together the egg and buttermilk in a small bowl
- 10 Run the cooled potato mixture through a ricer into the bowl with the flour mixture
- 11 (If you don't have a ricer, mash very thoroughly with a potato masher or fork
- 12 ) Whisk the buttermilk mixture into the flour-potato mixture
- 13 Pour 1 tablespoon of canola or vegetable oil into a large skillet over medium heat
- 14 Once it shimmers, add batter 1 tablespoon at a time to form small pancakes
- 15 (You'll be able to fit about 5 blini at a time in a 12-inch skillet
- 16 ) Cook until bubbles form all over the blinis' surface and the blini are deeply browned on one side, 2 to 3 minutes; carefully flip and cook on the second side, then transfer to a plate
- 17 Working in batches, cook the remaining blini, adding oil to the pan between batches if it looks dry
- 18 To assemble, top each blini with crème fraîche and a teaspoon of beluga lentils
- 19 Sprinkle with coarse sea salt, if desired, and garnish with fresh dill
Nutrition Facts : Calories calories, Fat g, Carbohydrate g, Cholesterol mg, Fiber g, Protein g, SaturatedFat g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium mg, Sugar g
WEDDING BARBIE - BLINI WITH CAVIAR
Provided by Robert Irvine : Food Network
Categories appetizer
Time 2h50m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a large bowl mix the yeast and warm water and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Whisk in the whole milk and melted butter. Add the all-purpose flour, buckwheat flour, and salt, and mix well. Cover and let the mixture to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
- When the dough has risen and doubled in size add the buttermilk and fold in the whipped egg whites until well mixed.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and coat with the cooking spray before beginning to make the pancakes. Add tablespoons of batter to the skillet, forming 1-inch diameter pancakes (or larger, if you like) and cook until golden brown on 1 side then flip them over and do the same on the other side. Remove from pan allow to cool on a platter. Repeat with remaining batter. Top with creme fraiche and caviar and serve.
CHIVE BLINI WITH CAVIAR AND CREME FRAICHE
Provided by Food Network
Categories dessert
Time 1h55m
Yield 50 (1-inch) pancakes
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine flour, egg, milk, 1 tablespoon butter, chives, and salt. Whisk just until ingredients come together. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside for 1 hour. Set a medium nonstick pan over low heat and brush with melted butter. Pour approximately 1 teaspoon of the batter into the pan, and repeat leaving some space between pancakes. When bubbles appear on the surface of the pancakes (about 1 to 2 minutes), flip them over with a spatula. Continue cooking for 1 minute more or until the pancakes are golden brown on both sides.
- Serve with a tiny dollop of creme fraiche and an even tinier dollop of the caviar of your choice (paddle fish, hackleback, golden whitefish and tobiko all work well.)
BELUGA LENTILS
These tiny black lentils are named for their resemblance to caviar.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Rinse the lentils, and pick through them to remove any small stones.
- Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat for 2 minutes. Swirl in 2 tablespoons olive oil and wait a minute. Add the onion, thyme, chile, 1 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper. Cook the onion, stirring often, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the lentils and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook about 2 minutes, stirring to coat the lentils in the oil and vegetables. Reduce the heat to low, and add the wine. Quickly add 6 cups water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Turn down the heat, and simmer 25 to 30 minutes, until the lentils are tender.
- Strain the lentils over a bowl. Toss them with the remaining 6 tablespoons olive oil, the basil sprigs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/3 cup of the cooking liquid. (Add more of the liquid if the lentils seem dry.) Taste for seasoning.
Tips:
- Mise en place: Before you start cooking, make sure you have all the ingredients and equipment you need. This will help you stay organized and ensure that you don't forget anything.
- Rinse the lentils: Rinsing the lentils before cooking helps to remove any dirt or debris. It also helps to activate the lentils, which makes them cook more evenly.
- Cook the lentils properly: Lentils should be cooked until they are tender but still hold their shape. If you overcook them, they will become mushy.
- Use a food processor: A food processor is the best way to get a smooth and creamy lentil caviar. If you don't have a food processor, you can use a blender, but you may need to add more liquid to get a smooth consistency.
- Season to taste: The lentil caviar should be seasoned to your liking. Add salt, pepper, and other spices as desired.
- Serve immediately or store for later: Lentil caviar can be served immediately or stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Conclusion:
Beluga lentil caviar is a delicious and healthy appetizer that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. Whether you serve it on blini, crackers, or crostini, lentil caviar is sure to be a hit. So next time you are looking for a unique and flavorful appetizer, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
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