don't buck the buckwheat trend
This buckwheat cereal, or “kasha,” is the most perfect, satisfying meal for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner. This gluten-free cereal isn’t made of grains but rather groats, and it has a nice warm, nutty flavor. While you can easily make it a sweet dish, my favorite way to enjoy buckwheat is in a more savory style with sautéed onions, butter, and lots of garlic. It’s how my grandmother used to make it for me and is a very common and traditional dish in Ukraine which is where she’s from. Now, every time I eat this dish, I feel so comforted and nostalgic for the warmth and satisfying aroma of my Bunia’s kitchen <3.
⟶ the recipe
buckwheat kasha with onions & garlic
ingredients
1 cup buckwheat
2 tablespoons butter
1 yellow onion, sliced
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 ½ cups milk
½ teaspoon Kosher salt
Prep time
15 minutes
Cook time
30 minutes
Total time
45 minutes
4 servings
instructions
Rinse buckwheat using a fine mesh strainer until water runs clear. Drain well and transfer to a bowl.
Place a large saucepan over medium low heat, and add the buckwheat to the pan, spreading it out into a single layer. Toast buckwheat, stirring often, until groats are golden brown. Remove from heat, and transfer buckwheat to a bowl and set aside. In the same saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium low heat. Add the onions, and saute on low heat until soft and lightly caramelized. Stir in the garlic, and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
Add the buckwheat back to the pan along with the milk, and bring liquid to a boil. Once bubbling, reduce heat and simmer on low until milk has been absorbed and buckwheat is tender, about 15 minutes. Add more liquid as needed.
Stir in the other tablespoon of butter, and season with salt to taste.
⟶ recipe notes
- The key to really good buckwheat kasha is making sure to roast or toast the buckwheat groats ahead of time. This will round out the flavor and take off some of the bitterness. You might be able to find already roasted buckwheat in the store, but if not, the easiest thing to do is just toast it in a dry skillet on the stove until golden
⟶ Modifications
- In addition to or instead of the onions, you can also add in some sautéed mushrooms, sour cream, egg, or other veggies
