FRESH CORN AND RED-PEPPER BLINI

Fresh Corn And Red-Pepper Blini image

Provided by Joanna Pruess

Time 2h10m

Yield Between 20 and 24 two-inch pancakes

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup lukewarm water
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup finely ground yellow cornmeal
2 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1 small roasted red bell pepper, peeled, seeded and finely diced
Clarified butter for greasing griddle or skillet
Optional: 1 dollop of crème fraiche, caviar and salmon

Steps:

Combine the yeast with the lukewarm water and sugar in a small bowl.
Bring the cream to a boil in a small saucepan. Add to the cornmeal and whisk until smooth. Place over ice and continue beating until lukewarm. Combine the yeast mixture with the cornmeal and leave the batter to ferment in a warm, draft-free area for two hours. (The mixture may be refrigerated overnight at this point.)
When ready to serve, beat the eggs until light. Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder, and stir into the eggs. Add the sour cream and mix until smooth. Combine with the cornmeal mixture (if the batter has been refrigerated and is stiff, place it over simmering water and stir until soft) and beat hard for two minutes. Mix in the corn and red pepper.
Heat the griddle or skillet until hot. Grease with a small amount of clarified butter. Ladle tablespoons of batter onto the griddle. Cook for one minute on the first side until lightly colored, flip and continue cooking for another 30 seconds.
To serve, place three pancakes on a warmed plate with a dollop of creme fraiche and a half-teaspoon each of Sevruga and salmon caviar per person. Or place one or two slices of Norwegian or Scotch salmon, along with a dollop of creme fraiche, on each pile of blini.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 125, UnsaturatedFat 3 grams, Carbohydrate 13 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 116 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams