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Kasha varnishkes

Buckwheat with bow-tie pasta

Kasha varnishkes (קאשה ורניצ'קעס): toasted buckwheat with bow-tie pasta and deeply browned onions

Kasha varnishkes came to Israel with Jews from Ukraine, Belarus and Poland, and it still turns up beside Friday-night dinners in older Ashkenazi neighbourhoods of Tel Aviv and Petah Tikva. Whole buckwheat groats are coated in egg and toasted so each grain stays separate and nutty, then tossed with farfalle and a heap of onions fried slowly until sweet and mahogany. It is earthy and filling, good as a side for roast vegetables or as a simple supper with pickles and a green salad. The usual mistake is skipping the egg-toasting step, which leaves the buckwheat clumped and porridgy. Chef's tip: give the onions a full 25 minutes, they are the sauce, and pale onions make a dull dish.
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

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Method

0/6 done
  1. Step 1: Warm 3 tbsp sunflower oil in a wide frying pan over a medium-low heat, add 3 onions and ½ tsp salt and cook slowly, stirring now and then, until deep brown and jammy.

    25 min
  2. Step 2: Meanwhile mix 7 oz whole roasted buckwheat groats (kasha) with 1 egg in a bowl until every grain is coated.

  3. Step 3: Heat a dry saucepan over a medium heat, add the coated buckwheat and stir constantly with a fork for 3–4 minutes, until the egg has dried and the grains smell toasty and separate.

    4 min
  4. Step 4: Pour in 2 cups hot vegetable stock (it will hiss), add ½ tsp salt, cover and simmer on the lowest heat until the liquid is absorbed and the grains are tender but not split.

    12 min
  5. Step 5: Cook 7 oz farfalle (bow-tie pasta) in salted boiling water until just al dente, then drain.

    10 min
  6. Step 6: Fold the pasta and buckwheat into the onions with the rest of 1 tbsp sunflower oil and ½ tsp black pepper, warming through for 2 minutes. Scatter over 2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley if using and serve hot.

    2 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
470 kcal
Protein
14 g
Carbs
74 g
Fat
14 g
Fibre
7 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does kasha varnishkes take?
About 45 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegetarian?
Yes. It has no meat or fish.
What can I use instead of egg?
1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
What can I use instead of hot vegetable stock?
Chicken stock, same amount (not vegetarian).

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