Kasha with Vegetables

Recipe by: Victoria Blashford-Snell, Brigitte Hafner | from The Illustrated Kitchen Bible

Cookstr

Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Total Time: Under 2 Hours

Skill Level: Moderate

Cost: Inexpensive

Kasha, also called buckwheat groats, is a healthy and delicious whole grain cereal that can be prepared in a manner similar to risotto to make a hearty vegetarian main course.

Yield: Makes 4–6 servings

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
2 portobello mushrooms, sliced
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/3 cup kasha (buckwheat groats)
½ cup dry white wine
About 4¼ cups hot vegetable stock or water
1 beet, cooked until tender, chopped
2 oz (55g) rindless goat cheese, crumbled
2 tbsp chopped parsley

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, mushrooms, celery, and garlic, and cook, stirring often, for 8–10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the kasha and cook, stirring often, for 2–3 minutes more. Add the wine and stir until it has been absorbed.

2. Stir in ½ cup hot vegetable stock and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring, until the stock is absorbed. Stir in another ½ cup of stock and repeat. Continue cooking and adding more stock for about 20 minutes, or until the kasha is tender but still a bit chewy.

3. Stir in the beet and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with cheese and parsley. Serve hot.