A blintz, blintze or blin (Russian: блин, блины; Ukrainian: блинці, blyntsi; plural: blintzes, blini, bliny) is a thin pancake.
The word "blin" comes from Old Slavic mlin, that means "to mill", compare the Ukrainian word for blin млинець, mlynets’. Blins had a somewhat ritual significance for early Slavic peoples in pre-Christian times since they were a symbol of the sun, due to their round form. They were traditionally prepared at the end of the winter to honor the rebirth of the new sun (Pancake week, in Russian Масленица). This tradition was adopted by the Orthodox church and is carried on to the present day. Bliny are also served at wakes, to commemorate the recently deceased.
Blins were borrowed into in Yiddish as בלינצע (blintse) and came into English in the form of "blintz".
Blins may be prepared and served in three basic ways.
- They may be eaten "as is". In this case the batter may contain various add-ins, from potato to raisins.
- They may be smeared with butter, bacon fat, smetana, jam or caviar and possibly folded or rolled into a tube. In that form they are similar to French Crêpes. The caviar filling is popular during Russian-style cocktail parties.
- (The term "blintz" is mostly applicable to this kind) A filling may be rolled or enveloped into a blintz and lightly fried, sautéed or baked. Possible fillings are jam, fruit, cottage cheese, ground meat or poultry. They are also called nalysnyky in that form (Ukrainian налисники).
Buckwheat bliny are part of traditional Russian cuisine, almost forgotten during the times of the Soviet Union, because buckwheat requires a good deal of care to grow and process, and it became a rare commodity. They are still widespread in Ukraine (in Ukrainian hrechanyky).
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