Welcome to a clever and delicious twist on a classic Russian dish! Kulebyaka is a traditional savory pie, known for its beautiful presentation and complex layers of filling encased in pastry. But what if you crave that rich, comforting flavor without spending hours in the kitchen? Enter the "Lazy Kulebyaka"! This ingenious recipe swaps the pastry for delicate, pre-made bliny (thin pancakes), creating a wonderfully tender, layered pie. Filled with a creamy mixture of chicken, earthy porcini mushrooms, and eggs, this dish is pure comfort food, perfect for a cozy family dinner.
Lazy Kulebyaka with blini
Ingredients for Lazy Kulebyaka with Blini
- 6 thin bliny (thin pancakes, similar to crêpes)
- 300 g cooked chicken
- 30 g dried porcini mushrooms
- 3 hard-boiled chicken eggs
- 1 onion
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 200 ml chicken broth
- 30 g butter
- 15 g cheese
- salt, pepper
How to Make Lazy Kulebyaka with Blini
First, make the thin pancakes, or bliny (thin pancakes, similar to crêpes). For the batter, you’ll need 2 eggs, 120g of flour, 300ml of milk, and a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth, then let the batter rest for 30 minutes. Cook thin bliny in a large skillet (26-30 cm), using about 3 tablespoons of batter for each one. The finished bliny can be frozen or wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated for the next day.
Frying thin bliny in a large pan.
Sautéing onions over low heat for 5 minutes.
Adding all-purpose flour to the sautéed onions.
Finely chop the onion. In a deep skillet, melt some butter, then add the chopped onion and sauté over low heat for 5 minutes until soft. Reserve a little butter for greasing the baking dish and for the top of the pie.
Add the all-purpose flour to the sautéed onions and cook for a couple of minutes, stirring, until golden brown.
Adding mushroom powder and mixing.
Grind the dried porcini mushrooms into a powder. Gradually pour the hot chicken broth into the skillet, whisking the sauce to prevent any flour lumps. Add the mushroom powder, stir, and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Adding finely chopped cooked chicken.
Finely chopping hard-boiled chicken eggs.
Mixing the sauce thoroughly before assembling the pie.
When the sauce is almost ready, add the finely chopped cooked chicken. Any part will work – breast or thighs.
Finely chop the hard-boiled eggs and add them to the sauce right after the chicken.
Mix the sauce thoroughly, and you’re ready to assemble the pie. At this stage, preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
Greasing a deep skillet with butter.
Grease a deep skillet or baking dish with butter. The bliny should be larger than the dish so you can fold the edges over the sides.
Placing the first blin in the dish.
Dividing the filling into equal parts.
Placing filling between each blin.
Place the first blin in the dish, lifting the edges up the sides.
Divide the filling into equal portions and spread one portion over the blin.
Continue assembling the kulebyaka (a traditional Russian savory pie), layering the filling between each blin.
Covering the pie with a whole blin.
Fold the edges of the bliny inwards and cover the top of the pie with one whole blin.
Sprinkling the kulebyaka with grated cheese.
Sprinkle the kulebyaka with grated cheese and dot the top with small pieces of butter.
The lazy kulebyaka with blini is ready, serve hot or warm.
Place the pie in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. All the ingredients are already cooked; you just need to bake it until the top is golden brown. To prevent the top blin from burning, you can cover the pie with foil and remove it for the last 5 minutes of baking.
The lazy kulebyaka with blini is ready. Serve it hot or warm. Enjoy your meal!
And there you have it – a stunning Lazy Kulebyaka that's ready to impress! This dish is wonderfully versatile. Serve it warm as a hearty main course, perhaps with a dollop of sour cream or a fresh green salad on the side. It's a fantastic way to use up leftover cooked chicken and a brilliant centerpiece for a special brunch or family gathering. We hope you enjoy this simplified take on a beloved classic and that it brings a taste of cozy, comforting Russian cuisine to your table. Happy cooking!
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