Lemon Blinis with Caviar and Scallion Crème Fraîche

Ingredients

• 0.3 teaspoon double-acting baking powder 
• 0.3 cup buckwheat flour 
• 2 ounces caviar such as trout caviar or salmon roe (see cooks' notes)
• 0.3 cup crème fraîche sour
• 1 large eggs 
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest divided grated
• 1 pinch salt 
• 2 tablespoons scallions divided very thinly sliced
• 0.3 teaspoon sugar 
• 2 tablespoons butter unsalted divided
• 3 tablespoons milk whole

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• oven
• whisk
• aluminum foil

Directions

1. Stir together crème fraîche and 1 tablespoon of the scallions.
2. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large non-stick skillet over low heat and scrap into a small bowl.
3. Whisk in milk, egg, and 1 teaspoon zest.
4. Add flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt and whisk until smooth.
5. Melt half of remaining butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat.
6. Drop 6 rounded teaspoons of batter into skillet and cook until tiny bubbles form on the surface, edges appear dry, and undersides are golden, about 2 to 3 minutes.
7. Flip and cook until golden and cooked through, about 1 to 2 minutes more.
8. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
9. Melt remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter in skillet and make 6 more blinis (you will have a little batter left over).
10. To serve, top blinis with a small dollop of scallion crème fraîche and some caviar, then sprinkle with remaining lemon zest and scallion.
11. •Blinis can be made up to 3 days ahead and chilled wrapped well in foil. Reheat in foil in a 350°F oven until warm, about 10 minutes.•Leftover blini batter can be chilled, covered, at least 2 days and used for more blinis or a single serving of morning pancakes.•If you're short on time, buckwheat pancake mix is a good option for the blinis. Just follow package instructions and add fresh lemon zest to the batter.•We love the Sunburst Trout Caviar from North Carolina. A 2-ounce jar costs $24.99 before shipping (sunbursttrout.com).•Salmon roe is available at fish markets and in jars in supermarkets.