Blinis: Eggless Buckwheat Pancakes for Ekadasi (can be vegan)

Shown here with stewed apple filling...

...Drizzle with date syrup...

...fold over and tuck in!

I had been meaning to make these for a few weeks, but somehow the time didn't seem right; then, on Sunday 1.4.12, which was Sri Ram Navami (the birthday of Lord Rama), I needed to make breakfast for my husband, who was getting up early to drive somewhere. It being a day when we observe Ekadasi fasting, these pancakes were ideal.

This recipe makes enough for at least 8 full-sized pancakes, depending on how thin you make them. (I made mine in various thicknesses.)

400g buckwheat flour

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (not baking soda/ baking powder)

600ml plant milk (nut, if you are observing ekadasi)

200ml water to thin the batter

oil for frying

• Beat the first three ingredients together with a balloon whisk until the batter is smooth.
• Add the water gradually- you may need slightly more or less than the given amount depending on your brand of flour.
• Heat enough oil in a non-stick frying pan to cover the base.
• Pour in 1-2 tabs of the batter, tilting the pan so that it covers the base evenly.
• Fry until the top is "set".
• Carefully flip over (they are delicate!) and fry for a couple more minutes, just to brown the other side.
• Add more oil for the next pancake(s) if you need to.
• I served mine with some stewed apple and date syrup inside. Yum!

Note: If you want to make this vegan, then use soya, oat or rice milk instead of dairy milk, but remember that soya milk counts as a grain and is not suitable for use on Ekadasi days. If you need it to be vegan for Ekadasi, try almond milk or water.