appetizers
Buckwheat Blini with Crème Fraîche and Ossetra Caviar
Store-bought buckwheat blini, cool crème fraîche, and rich Ossetra caviar. A real celebration for two, ready in 15 minutes.
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This is the kind of dish that looks like you planned it for weeks and actually took you 15 minutes flat. Store-bought buckwheat blini do all the heavy lifting — the earthy, slightly sour flavour of buckwheat is a natural match for Ossetra caviar, which brings a rich, nutty creaminess that crème fraîche only makes better. No cooking, no timing anxiety, nothing to get wrong.
For a celebration for two, lay everything out on a small board and let people build their own. If you want one serving tip: keep the crème fraîche cold right up until you plate. Warm crème fraîche goes slack and slides around — cold, it holds the caviar in place and the contrast in temperature is genuinely nice. A small squeeze of lemon at the end is optional, but it brightens the whole thing. If you're new to eating caviar this way, our how-to guide covers everything you need to feel confident from the first bite.
Ingredients
- 12 store-bought buckwheat blini — room temperature
- 4 tbsp crème fraîche — full-fat
- about 30g Ossetra caviar — to serve
- small bunch fresh chives — finely snipped
- 1 lemon — cut into wedges
- pinch flaky sea salt
Method
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Arrange the blini in a single layer on a small serving board or plate.
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Spoon about half a teaspoon of crème fraîche onto the centre of each blini and spread it gently to the edges.
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Using a small spoon, place a rounded half-teaspoon of Ossetra caviar on top of the crème fraîche on each blini.
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Scatter snipped chives over the assembled blini and add the lemon wedges to the side.
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Serve immediately — a small squeeze of lemon over the plate right before eating is optional but good.
Caviar for Tuesday
Caviar for this recipe
Frequently asked
Can I use homemade blini instead of store-bought?
Absolutely — homemade blini are great here, but store-bought buckwheat blini keep this genuinely no-cook and ready in 15 minutes. Either works.
What makes Ossetra the right caviar for this dish?
Ossetra is rich, creamy, and nutty, which pairs well with the tang of crème fraîche and the earthy flavour of buckwheat — they pull in the same direction rather than competing.
What does Ossetra caviar cost?
Price depends on grade and tin size. Head to the shop for current figures — we keep pricing transparent and straightforward there.