500 grams Raw Buckwheat (Kasha)
8-10 Button Mushrooms (thinly sliced)
2 Large Brown Onions (thinly sliced)
700 grams Japanese Pumpkin (Kent Pumpkin)
100 grams of Baby Spinach
7 Cups of Vegetable Stock
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (4-5 tablespoons)
Salt & Pepper to taste
Serves: 8-10
Preparation Time: 1 hour (approximately)
Wash and pat dry the pumpkin to remove any dirt and cut into pieces approximately 10cm wide (leaving the skin on). Place the pumpkin on a tray lined with baking paper and put the tray in a pre-heated oven at 200° and bake for 30-40 minutes.
Place Buckwheat in a strainer and rinse thoroughly under cold running water.
In a pot large enough, place the 7 cups of Vegetable Stock and bring to the boil. Add the rinsed Buckwheat and return to the stove. After the liquid has returned to the boil, turn down the heat, cover and simmer for about 25-30 minutes.
Drain any remaining liquid in a strainer and allow the Buckwheat to cool a little.
In a frying pan add the Olive oil, allow the oil to heat a little and then add the sliced onions. Cook on a medium to high heat until the onions start browning. Stir the onions frequently allowing them to brown evenly. Continue browning the onions until they are all fairly even in colour. Remove the onions and place aside in a small bowl.
Using the same pan add the sliced mushrooms and saute for a few minutes until they soften. Add the spinach leaves and continue to saute for another minute. Place all the Buckwheat in the pan and reduce the heat. Mix thoroughly with the mushrooms, spinach and approximately 3/4 of the fried onions, salt and pepper. Reserve the remainder of the onions to garnish the salad on top along with the sliced pumpkin .
Cook’s Tips
You can serve the Buckwheat Salad hot or cold accompanying a variety of meats. Or just enjoy it as a meal.
The above recipe makes a large quantity and requires a large serving bowl. Ideal for entertaining a large group of people. You can halve the recipe if you are serving a family of 4-6 people. The left over salad can be used for lunches or snacks.
The quantity of stock recommended will be absorbed by the wheat during the cooking process, (similar to the absorption method when cooking rice). However, if there is a little bit of moisture left once cooked, place in a colander/strainer and allow to strain. Other stock flavours can be used to cook the Buckwheat such as chicken, beef or veal, feel free to experiment.
Enjoy!
11 Responses
Great recipe Milanka! Our mouths are watering!
Thank you & enjoy! 🙂
This sounds and looks amazing. I’ll have to try it. I will probably have to chop up the mushrooms beyond recognition, since my wife won’t eat them.
Or you can add another veggie that she likes. Especially if she has a favourite vegetable… 🙂
ROFL her favorite vegetable is none 😉
Add a little meat then!
Oh, I haven’t had buckwheat in years! It makes such a nice veggie burger, too, IMO.
To be truthful it has been decades since I have had Buckwheat. The last time I remember having this dish was when I was a child. I was born in Croatia and meat was scarce and expensive, vegetarian dishes were on the menu. I always loved Buckwheat & Pearl Barley. Great to relive some childhood memories. Thank you for visiting. Milanka
I loved how you always come up with healthy recipes and they looked very easy to make. I’ve heard buckwheat is very healthy, but I haven’t never tried it before. I wonder how it tastes like. Well done Milanka! <3
It has a slightly nutty flavour. It’s delicious, healthy and inexpensive. Quinoa is very popular at the moment. However, very expensive and yet there is the Buckwheat, Pearl Barley, Brown Rice that are reasonable in price and healthy as well. There is always an inexpensive option! 🙂 <3
Wow, it sounds really tasty to me 😛 Yes, Quinoa is very popular and expensive at the moment. We have way more healthy food at a reasonable price than we think 😀