Roasted Buckwheat Salad – Vegan Buckwheat Recipe

Vegan roasted buckwheat salad recipe with carrots, scallions and a sweet and lemony dressing.

VEGAN BUCKWHEAT SALAD

I am really into roasted buckwheat lately. I bought a large bag of roasted buckwheat or kasha a couple of months ago and, surprisingly, I have used it all up in such a short time.

OK, there is still about ½ cup roasted buckwheat in the bag, but I am already planning another vegan buckwheat recipe – a soup – for the weekend. When making a soup I don't need that much of it.

Usually, I buy a bag of something similar (bulgur, couscous, spelt berries, amaranth, lentils, beans) and although I try to use it all up before it expires, it usually does not happens so fast. This time it did happen.

But not to worry, buckwheat is a super healthy gluten free plant, so it really doesn't matter if you have it often.

 

ROASTED OR UNROASTED BUCKWHEAT GROATS

You can buy buckwheat either roasted or unroasted. Sometimes the issue is specified on the packet of buckwheat, but unfortunately not always. Most recipes I cooked with buckwheat ask for roasted buckwheat.

And luckily most buckwheat that you can buy in a regular store is already roasted and usually the packet will only mention anything if the buckwheat is raw, so unroasted.

The best and easiest way to tell if the buckwheat is roasted or not is by looking at it: raw buckwheat has a very light color, while roasted buckwheat is brown and crunchier if you bite it... That easy!

 

ROASTED BUCKWHEAT SALAD RECIPE

This vegan buckwheat recipe is super simple. The only thing you have to pay attention to is to cook your buckwheat the right way. Cook it right and the buckwheat groats will be soft while still retaining a bite, nutty and delicious!

Cook it too long or use too much liquid (water, stock) and the buckwheat will be too soft, mushy and watery. You will not like it.

How to cook buckwheat?

The most important thing when cooking buckwheat groats is not to use to much liquid or to overcook the groats. In both cases you will end up with mushy buckwheat, which is not particularly nice to eat.

Make sure you read the package's instructions before starting to cook the buckwheat groats. Most packages would instruct you to use a 1 to 2 ratio of buckwheat groats and water, so 1 cup buckwheat to 2 cups water.

However, I always use less water or broth to cook buckwheat, so 1 cup buckwheat to 1 ¾ cup water. I make sure that the lid of the pan fits well, so that not too much steam can escape.

How long should you cook buckwheat?

Definitely check the packet's instructions, they can differ so much, from 7-8 minutes on some to 15-18 minutes on others. So, make absolutely sure to check the packet's instructions before you start cooking the buckwheat, no matter what the recipe you are following is instructing you to do.

IMPORTANT: Never trust only a recipe when cooking buckwheat. ALWAYS read the packet's instructions regarding the ratio of buckwheat to water and the cooking times.

Use slightly less water than recommended on the packet's instructions, while making sure that the pot you are using has a tight fitting lid and start checking if the buckwheat has reached the desired consistency about 2-3 minutes before the recommended time is up.

 

HOW TO MAKE BUCKWHEAT SALAD

• Bring the vegetable broth to a boil. Rinse the buckwheat groats in a sieve and give them to the pot.
• Cover with a tight fitting lid and simmer on low heat, more or less 10 minutes. Check the packet's instructions and start checking if the buckwheat is cooked to your liking 2-3 minutes before the recommended time is up.
• If there is still some liquid left in the pan by the time the buckwheat is cooked, drain it well (in the sieve). Let the buckwheat cool. You can serve this buckwheat salad either lukewarm or cold.
•  Make the dressing. Finely grate the garlic cloves. Mix with the olive oil, brown sugar and ¾ of the lemon juice first. Add the spices: chili flakes, ground cumin, ground coriander salt and pepper. Stir well until the sugar dissolves.
• Adjust the taste with the remaining lemon juice, salt and more sugar, if necessary. The dressing should be really lemony, yet sweet, strong flavors are required, so don't be shy with the lemon juice and the sugar.
• Add the vegetables. Grate the carrots on the large hole side of a box grater. Thinly slice the scallions/green onions. Chop the parsley including most of their stems. Remove only the thicker lower parts of the stems, about 1-2 cm/ 0.4-0.8 inches. Give everything to the bowl containing the roasted buckwheat.
• Give the dressing to the buckwheat salad and mix well. Taste and adjust the taste again, if necessary. As mentioned above, the dressing should be really powerful and give the salad a real kick.

 

HOW TO SERVE THE BUCKWHEAT SALAD

This roasted buckwheat salad can be served lukewarm or completely cooled. You can cook the buckwheat groats in advance, let them cool and keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

To make a complete meal, you could serve some creamy vegetable soup before or with the buckwheat salad.

The buckwheat salad is a suitable dish to bring to a barbecue or a party and it makes a great side dish for meats, chicken or fish. I can imagine eating it alongside this slowed cooked shoulder of lamb, for instance.

The buckwheat salad with lemon dressing keeps very well. You can keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for several day. This vegan buckwheat recipe also makes a great lunch box food, easy to transport and to eat at work.

MORE BUCKWHEAT RECIPES:

Roasted Buckwheat with Mushrooms and Onions - Polish Kasha

Roasted Buckwheat with Vegetables -Vegan Kasha Recipe

Healthy Turkey or Chicken Buckwheat Soup with Vegetables