Kasha Stuffed Tomatoes 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.

MUSHROOM AND KASHA STUFFING

Steps:

• Place the groats in a small, heavy saucepan. Stir in the egg to coat the grains. Cook over medium high heat, stirring, until the groats are dry and separate. Don't worry if some of the egg has coated the pan. Add 1 1/2 cups of stock, bring to a simmer, cover and cook until the groats are just tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. (This proportion of liquid to grain is smaller than recommended on the package. The results are crunchy and separate, but additional moisture is picked up in the process of cooking the stuffing in the poultry and the grains will soften.)
• Heat butter and oil in a large skillet. Add the onion, saute until just beginning to soften, then add the mushrooms. Saute over medium high heat until the mushrooms are beginning to brown. Add the scallions, garlic, parsley and thyme.
• Stir in the cooked kasha and the bread. Moisten with the remaining one-half cup of stock. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

KASHA-STUFFED ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a roasting pan and set aside. In a skillet over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons of chicken fat or oil, and sauté diced onion until golden. Remove from heat and set aside.
• In a small mixing bowl, beat egg lightly and stir in kasha. Mix well to coat all grains. Place a dry heavy skillet over high heat. When it is hot, add egg-coated kasha and stir with a wooden spoon to flatten it and break up any lumps. Continue to stir until egg has dried and kernels are browned and mostly separated. Add broth or water, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil. Add cooked onions, celery, mushrooms (if using), parsley and sage. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until kasha is tender, about 15 minutes.
• Rub exterior of chicken with 1 tablespoon of remaining chicken fat or oil and garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stuff both cavities of chicken with kasha mixture. (Excess kasha may be baked in an ovenproof dish, during last 30 minutes of roasting time.)
• In bottom of roasting pan, combine potatoes, apples, carrots, parsnips and chopped onions. Add remaining 1 tablespoon chicken fat or oil, and rosemary, and toss well to coat. Gently place chicken on top of vegetables and bake until golden and cooked through, about 1 1/2 hours. To serve, carve chicken as desired and serve each portion with some of vegetables and apples.

KASHA AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• In a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat.
• Add the onions and saute, stirring often.
• While the onions are sauting, heat the vegetable broth in a saucepan, to boiling.
• In a bowl, mix together the egg and kasha.
• When the onions have softened, add in the kasha mixture and stir well to combine.
• Stir the kasha mixture for a minute or two, until the kasha kernels are separate and dry.
• When the stock boils, add it to the skillet; cover, and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes or so, until the liquid is absorbed and the kasha is cooked.
• While the kasha is cooking, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in another medium skillet; saute/stir the mushrooms over high heat until the mushrooms release their juices.
• Remove the mushroom skillet from the heat.
• When the kasha is tender, add the mushrooms and 2-3 tablespoons of their liquid.
• Add in the soy sauce, dill, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve hot.