Instant Pot makes perfectly cooked and fluffy buckwheat with minimum time and effort. Serve it as a side dish or as a breakfast cereal with milk and fruit. You can also add cooked grains to salads and bowls.
Buckwheat is a gluten-free pseudo-grain that is grown mainly in Europe and Asia.
In Ukraine, Buckwheat is called Kasha. Kasha translates as porridge. It is as popular as rice in the United States. We enjoy it as a side dish, in soups, or as a breakfast porridge.
Buckwheat is rich in dietary fiber, iron, Magnesium, Zink, and much more.
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Difference between brown and green buckwheat
You can find green or brown buckwheat. Both come from the same plant, but brown buckwheat is processed differently. Brown buckwheat (Kasha) has been toasted before packaging.
Since raw green buckwheat does not have a long shelf life, the toasting method was implemented to extend the grain's expiration date.
Toasted buckwheat groats become brown and have a nuttier taste. They come out fluffy after cooking.
Green (raw) buckwheat takes a little less time to cook. Green buckwheat has a very milk-delicate taste and comes out rather mushy after cooking.
We enjoy both green and brown buckwheat ( both American and Ukrainian brands).
It is important to mention that American toasted buckwheat brands always come out mushy. If you want fluffy buckwheat, use Eastern European Kasha brands.
You can easily find Ukrainian-brand brown buckwheat online or at the local European store. "Skvira" and "Uvelka" are my favorite ones on Amazon.
Another naturally-gluten free and nutritious grain is millet. It is very easy too cook in your Preassure Cooker.
Why you will love this recipe
- this recipe is gluten-free and is great for people who follow a low food map diet.
- buckwheat is very nutritious and rich in fiber, magnesium. It is a great quality plant-based protein and contains a good number of essential amino acids.
- this recipe is great for meal prep and can be used in a variety of ways: salads, sides, breakfast cereals, smoothies.
Ingredients
This instant pot buckwheat recipe requires only a few ingredients listed below.
- Toasted Buckwheat Groats: I buy Ukrainian brand toasted buckwheat on Amazon. Just search for "Skvira" Or "Uvelka" Buckwheat. You can use American brand toasted (brown) or not toasted buckwheat (green). Just heads up, it will be mushy. For fluffy buckwheat use, the European toasted buckwheat.
- Filtered Water: tap or filtered water to cook the groats.
- Salt: salt is optional, but I always use a little bit of salt to cook my buckwheat for more taste and flavor.
- Butter: butter is also an optional ingredient, and is used only for serving.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Suggested Equipment
This is the list of equipment I used to make this recipe:
- Measuring Cup
- Measuring spoons
- Mesh Strainer
- Instant Pot Duo
How to cook buckwheat in Instant Pot
I used Instant Pot Duo to make this recipe. Below are step-by-step instructions with process pictures.
1. Measure the desired amount of buckwheat groats. Pour them on a flat large flat plate and sort them, getting rid of any debris and rocks. These days buckwheat usually comes pre-sorted and mostly clean, but I always recommend double-checking.
2. After that, using a large mesh strainer, rinse the grains under cold water to wash off any dust.
3. Add rinsed and sorted buckwheat to your instant pot metal inner pot. Now add the required amount of filtered water and salt (if using).
4. Close the lid and turn the valve to the sealing position. At last, press "pressure cook" and set the time to 5 minutes. Do natural release for 10 minutes followed by quick pressure release after.
5. And finally, fluff the buckwheat groats with the fork and enjoy!
Note: follow the same direction for cooking green buckwheat.
Expert Tips
- rinse buckwheat before cooking
- serve it hot with butter
- add a pinch of salt before cooking to enhance the taste
- for fluffy kasha use toasted brown buckwheat
How to serve
There are many ways to enjoy buckwheat groats: side dishes, in salads or smoothies, as a breakfast porridge.
My always favorite way is hot buckwheat with butter on top with chicken and vegetables.
Below are some ideas what to serve your buckwheat with:
- Cast Iron Chicken Breasts
- Chicken Piccata with Mushrooms
- Turkey and Beef Meatloaf
- Baked Tuscan Chicken
- Air fryer turkey meatloaf
How to store cooked buckwheat
Refrigerate: transfer any leftovers to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for about 3-5 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a frying pan with a little bit of water.
Freezing: you can freeze the groats, but they might lose the texture.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Buckwheat is a naturally gluten-free pseudo-grain. However, it is possible some wheat cross contamination. Always look for certified gluten-free marking on the packaging.
It depends. Buckwheat is considered a pseudo-grain, so most of people avoid it on Paleo diet. But since buckwheat groat comes from a seed of a flower (it's not an actual grain), some allow it on Paleo diet.
Other grains to cook in a pressure cooker
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Buckwheat
Equipment
- 1 Measuring Cup
- 1 measuring spoons set
- 1 mesh strainer
- 1 instant pot
Ingredients
- 1 cup toasted buckwheat groats
- 1.5 cup filtered water
- ¼ teaspoon salt or by taste
- ½ teaspoon butter for serving, optional
Instructions
- Rinse and sort buckwheat.1 cup toasted buckwheat groats
- Add buckwheat, water and salt to your instant pot metal pot.1 cup toasted buckwheat groats, 1.5 cup filtered water, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Pressure cook on high for 5 minutes, followed by 10 minutes natural release. Carefully open the vent valve to do the quick release to get rid of any steam left.
- Open the lid, fluff the buckwheat with the fork. Serve hot with some butter!
Notes
- for softer and mushier groats cook on high pressure for 6 minutes followed by natural release.
- use toasted groats for a fluffy buckwheat.
- make sure to rinse and sort buckwheat to get rid of any dust or debris.
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