Buckwheat is a very popular grain in both Russia and Ukraine. Russians use the sentence‘Щи да каша – пища наша’, which translates to ‘Cabbage soup and cereal – that’s our food’ and for them, cereal is “buckwheat.”
It is known as “Grechka” and was an iconic meal during World War 2, served with canned meat. Today, it is served during Victory day celebrations and Russia is the largest producer of buckwheat in the world.
In India, buckwheat is called “Kuttu” in Hindi, kutto in Gujarati, and papparai in Tamil. It is a staple grain used during fasting on many festivals like Navratri, Shivaratri, or Janmashtami.
Watch How to Make Perfect Instant Pot Buckwheat
What is Buckwheat?
Buckwheat is a great choice when following a gluten-free diet. It belongs to the family of pseudocereals meaning like other grains, buckwheat doesn’t grow on grass. And it is definitely not related to wheat and is available in many forms like groats, kasha, flour, flakes and honey. Groats: Buckwheat groats are the whole kernels that are triangular in shape and have a nutty flavor. They are usually lighter brown in color and also come in medium-sized pieces usually known as buckwheat grits. Kasha: Toasted buckwheat is called Kasha and it is darker in color than groats. They are slightly nuttier in taste than groats and hold their shape better than groats. Kasha is also used to make buckwheat pilaf and porridge. Buckwheat flour: Made from finely ground buckwheat kernels, the buckwheat flour is of two types. Dark-colored flour uses the whole buckwheat including the hull and light-colored flour is without the hull. It is a healthy substitute for baking recipes like bread, soba noodles, crepes, and pancakes and is a good source of fiber, similar to sorghum. Buckwheat honey: It is made from buckwheat flowers. It has a malty taste and is darker in color.
Buckwheat Nutrition
Buckwheat is rich in flavonoids and is a wonderful option for those who are following a gluten-free diet or have celiac disease. As it is a seed, buckwheat is gluten-free. It also has many benefits like:
It is rich in fiber and aids in better digestion Helps in controlling blood sugar and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases . It is an excellent source of minerals and antioxidants It keeps you full for a longer time.
Where to buy?
How to cook in Instant Pot?
It is very easy to cook buckwheat in an instant pot similar to rice.
Rinse the buckwheat before you start cooking. I put them in a strainer and put them under running water for a few seconds. Then start by adding water and the rinsed buckwheat to the instant pot. Add salt, and optionally some oil or butter.
Close the lid with the vent in sealing position and set to pressure cook. When the instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally for about 10 minutes. Open the lid after the pressure is completely released from the instant pot.
Open the lid, and fluff the buckwheat with a fork. Then take the steel insert out of the instant pot, so that heat does not overcook the bottom layer of the buckwheat. Buckwheat is ready to be served.
You want to make sure that you don’t overcook it. No one likes a mushy bowl of buckwheat. With this instant pot method, you will get perfectly cooked separate grains every time.
Pot-in-pot method
Add 1 cup water to the main steel insert of the instant pot and place the trivet in the main insert. Then add water and buckwheat to a smaller steel bowl that will fit in the instant pot and place the bowl on the trivet. Then close instant pot lid with the vent in sealing position. Set it to cook for about 8 minutes at high pressure. When the pressure cooker beeps, let the pressure release naturally and open the lid after the complete pressure release. Then fluff it with a fork and the buckwheat is ready to be served.
Stovetop Method
Add 2 cups water, 1 cup kasha, 1 teaspoon salt and 1-2 teaspoon oil to a pot. Set it on medium-high heat, and bring to a boil. Now lower the heat and cover with a lid. Cook for about 10 minutes. Then remove from heat. Let it rest for another 15-20 minutes. Then fluff with a fork, and serve.
Tips
You can use olive oil or butter or even skip if you want to make oil-free buckwheat. Make sure to not overcook, and take out the steel insert once the buckwheat (kasha) is cooked. This will help to not overcook the bottom later from the residual heat. Try to not mash while stirring. Fluff with a fork. You can also use broth to cook buckwheat if you prefer.
How to store?
You can store the cooked buckwheat in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. You can also freeze in freezer safe bags and defrost before reheating. You can reheat buckwheat in a pan or microwave. I prefer to reheat in the microwave. Cover with a wet paper towel to keep it moist.
How to serve?
Follow any of the cooking methods above to buckwheat ready for using it in many recipes.
Porridge: Add some milk (dairy or non-dairy) along with the fruits of your choice plus nuts for a yummy porridge. You can add some more water and cook it a bit longer for a creamier porridge Make it as a pilaf with meat and your choice of veggies It can be used in a salad Use kasha as a replacement for rice or quinoa when making a pulav or biryani. Give it an Italian twist by using it as a risotto recipe.
Hope you enjoy this nutritious buckwheat in your everyday meals. Do share how it turned out! More healthy grain recipes in the instant pot:
How to cook sorghum? Millet Pongal Instant Pot Wild Rice Perfect 1-minute Quinoa Instant Pot Wild Rice Blend
