8 medium potatoes
1 medium onion, grated
1 egg
Salt & pepper
4 level tbsp. flour
In Europe and Russia, bleenies (or “blinis”) are regular flour pancakes and are served with caviar. In the Coal Region, a bleenie is a potato pancake. Few people make them at home since they can create a huge greasy mess in your kitchen (and your whole house). That’s why they are popular at block parties and church bazaars. Bleenie lines have been known to circle halfway around the block.
Peel and grate potatoes. Mix potatoes and all other ingredients together. Flatten like pancakes. Fry. Add salt to taste after cooking. Some people put vinegar on before eating, others smear on some grape or strawberry jelly. See photo.
Warning: When cooking, be very careful with the grease. “Oy, Yezus, you could set yer house on fire!“
Another Bleenie recipe
4 potatoes (grate on fine grater)
2 eggs
1 onion (grated with the potatoes)
2 or 3 tbsp. flour
Cooking oil
Mix all ingredients. Spoon mixture into the hot oil (do put too much oil in the pan; just enough to cover the bleenies as they fry). When they are lightly browned on one side, gently turn bleenies to fry the other side. Serve with salt or vinegar. Good with sour cream or pork & beans.
Hint: Drain potatoes thru a colander to make a much firmer bleenie.
