buckwheat

[mom61508]

So I have a bag of buckwheat and I'm trying to figure out what to do with it???

[cristeen]

raw or toasted? Whole kernel or flour?

Whole kernel toasted is commonly referred to as kasha. It makes a great side dish instead of rice. You can make a great casserole/rissoto type dish with it and mushrooms. In some parts of the world it's eaten for breakfast instead of the oatmeal we're used to.

It is not nearly as bland as any of the grains that are more commonly seen in this part of the world. It has a nutty flavor, and can be a tad bitter at times. It is not truly a grain, but I'm not sure whether it needs soaking or not.

[Feb2003]

I'm trying something new today. I picked up a bag of whole buckwheat that was so pale I assume it's raw. Per a friend's instruction, I soaked it overnight in filtered water and then rinsed and it's in the dehydrator. She has used both unsoaked and soaked and prefers the soaked. Anyway, she typically pulverizes the dehydrated buckwheat in the blender and then uses it like a flour to make pancakes. I will try the loose 'recipe' she gave me tomorrow and post it if anyone is interested.

I will also keep some soaked and dehydrated buckwheat aside to add to our snack mix (we're grain free so our snack mix is sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and dried fruit...sometimes dark chocolate).

From a quick internet search, I saw that buckwheat is a seed.