Kasha Caliente Recipes

HOW TO COOK BUCKWHEAT KASHA

Steps:

• Rinse and drain buckwheat well.
• In a medium sauce pan, combine buckwheat with 1 3/4 cups water, 1 Tbsp butter and 1/2 tsp salt. Bring to a simmer then cover with a tight fitting lid and simmer on low for 18-20 min. Just like with rice, you should hear hissing while cooking and it will get quiet when done. Stir in additional 1 Tbsp butter if desired.
• Transfer all ingredients to the rice cooker and set on the white rice setting. When done, add an extra Tbsp of butter if desired and stir in 1-2 tsp water to moisten up the kernels if they seem dry. Serve hot.

KASHA CALIENTE

Steps:

• In a medium pot, bring vegetable broth to a boil. Immediately cover and turn off the heat. In a large skillet (preferably nonstick) over medium heat, add kasha and one-third of the beaten eggs. Stir, coating the kasha in the egg, and toasting the grains. Stir constantly, cooking until the egg is no longer visible. Add the just boiled broth and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until the liquid has absorbed. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add butter. Once the butter has melted add onion. Cook, stirring often, until onion has softened, then add garlic. Cook garlic for a minute, until fragrant. Add the vegetable crumbles and cook just until hot. Add the scallions, Mexicorn, fire roasted tomatoes, kidney beans, lime, chili powder, cumin seeds and dry cumin, dry cilantro, garlic salt, Italian seasoning, tomatillo salsa and remaining eggs. Fold in the cooked kasha and mix until thoroughly combined.
• Scrape mixture into a lightly oiled 9 x 13 baking dish. Top the mixture with shredded cheese and bake, uncovered, for 40 to 45 minutes, until cheese is golden brown and bubbling. Allow to cool slightly before serving with additional tomatillo salsa.

KASHA

Steps:

• Place the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, while stirring to crumble, until almost cooked through. Drain the grease, and reduce heat to medium. Stir in the celery, green onions, and tomato. Cook until the celery is tender, and the beef is browned.
• Meanwhile, bring the beef broth to a boil in a saucepan. Add the bulgur wheat, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 10 minutes, until tender. Stir the bulgur wheat into the vegetables and beef, and season with salt and cayenne pepper.

RACHEL'S PEARL ONION AND KASHA KUGEL

Steps:

• Bring the broth or water to a boil and add a little salt and paprika. Sweet works great, I like smoked for that extra zing.
• Add the kasha, stir, and leave on high heat uncovered.
• Once the kasha expands and soaks up the liquid at the top (about 5 minutes) cover with lid and leave on low heat for another 12-15 minutes. Make sure all liquid has been absorbed at the bottom!
• Fluff with a fork and place into a mixing bowl. Or if making ahead of time, put into a container and refrigerate, then later put it in the mixing bowl.
• Empty the bag of frozen pearl onions into a small bowl, and rinse any freezer burn off them with warm water. Pat dry.
• Put the pearl onions into the mixing bowl of kasha.
• Using the same small, cold bowl from rinsing the frozen onions, beat the eggs with the oil and spices then mix into the large bowl. If you make and cool the kasha ahead of time, you don't need to mix them separately but I do this anyway to evenly coat the mixture-- as my grandpa used to say, "This knish filling is good but it needs more snot to hold it together!".
• Pour into a well-oiled 9.5" or 10" pie pan.
• Bake for 50-60 minutes at 350F, or until the top is nice and browned.

KASHA VARNISHKES

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, saute onions and mushrooms in oil in a large skillet until lightly browned, about 9 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside., Combine buckwheat groats and egg in a small bowl; add to the same skillet. Cook and stir over high heat for 2-4 minutes or until buckwheat is browned, separating grains with the back of a spoon. Add the hot broth, salt and pepper., Bring to a boil; add onion mixture. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Drain pasta; add to pan and heat through. Sprinkle with parsley.

KASHA

Steps:

• Combine water, salt, and butter in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Once it reaches the boil turn off heat and cover.
• Meanwhile, beat egg in a medium bowl and add kasha. Mix together until grains are thoroughly and evenly coated.
• Transfer to a medium-size, wide, heavy saucepan (I use Analon nonstick), place over high heat and stir egg-coated kasha constantly until grains are dry, smell toasty, and no egg is visible, 2 to 3 minutes. Add just-boiled water, turn heat to very low, cover and simmer 10 to 12 minutes for cracked kasha, 30 minutes for whole kasha, or until all of the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat.
• Remove lid from pan, place clean dish towel over pan (not touching the grains), and cover tightly. Let sit undisturbed for 10 to 15 minutes. Fluff and serve.

KASHA VARNISHKES AT WOLFF'S IN NEW JERSEY

Steps:

• 1. Sauté the onions in 2 tablespoons of the margarine or chicken fat in a heavy frying pan with a cover until golden. Remove to a plate.
• 2. Beat the egg in a small mixing bowl and stir in the kasha. Mix, making sure all the grains are coated. Put the kasha in the same frying pan, set over a high heat. Flatten, stir, and break up the egg-coated kasha with a fork or wooden spoon for 2 to 4 minutes or until the egg has dried on the kasha and the kernels brown and mostly separate.
• 3. Add the water or bouillon, salt, and pepper to the frying pan and bring to a boil. Add the onions, cover tightly, and cook over low heat, steaming the kasha for 10 minutes. Remove the cover, stir, and quickly check to see if the kernels are tender and the liquid has been absorbed. If not, cover and continue steaming for 3 to 5 minutes more.
• 4. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the bow-tie noodles according to the directions on the package. Drain.
• 5. When the kasha is ready, combine with the noodles. Adjust the seasoning, sprinkle with the parsley and coriander. If desired, add a bit more margarine or chicken fat.