Back in my childhood buckwheat was omnipresent: buckwheat with milk and honey for breakfast (kasha), buckwheat sautéed with meat, buckwheat with mushrooms and sour cream. Later on I found out that there is also a buckwheat diet helping with weight loss and providing detoxifying effects. I used it a while ago, but have in mind it’s a mono-diet. Buckwheat is gluten-free and is very popular in Eastern Europe as well as Asia. It plays a significant role in Japanese and Korean cuisines.
To my surprise it was hard to find buckwheat in the U.S. grocery stores when I moved to New York. Some time ago healthy eating advocates started talking more about buckwheat’s health benefits and it is nowadays an easy find in many health food stores and even in neighborhood supermarkets. Close relatives of buckwheat are quinoa and amaranth.
Fun fact: buckwheat has nothing to do with wheat (as its name may suggest), therefore it is gluten-free. It is also rich in minerals like manganese and copper, contains fiber and relatively good amount of protein if compared to other grains. Among the health benefits of buckwheat are: improved blood sugar control, better heart health and better metabolism.
3 health benefits of buckwheat:
- gluten free
- rich in protein
- good for heart health
Buckwheat is a pseudo cereal, meaning it is cooked as most cereals but doesn’t grow on grass.
Buckwheat
Another name for buckwheat – soba is a traditional Japanese dish, buckwheat noodles that are usually served cold with a variety of dipping sauces or broths. I think it is wildly underrated in the U.S. People mostly think of ramen noodles as a Japanese specialty, but hey try soba. Not only it is a healthier version but it tastes great too.
Buckwheat Noodles
Soba noodles are best enjoyed cold and right away, it is not recommended to refrigerate and reheat them. Follow cooking instructions on the label precisely, avoid overcooking and rinse the noodles well with cold after cooking.
Below you will find one of my favorite vegetarian recipes – miso eggplant with soba noodles and green beans. Perfect for a meatless dinner or lunch. Savory rich and creamy miso sauce is a compliment to eggplant and a kid’s favorite. Feel free to adjust maple syrup in this recipe to achieve the desired level of sweetness. This miso marinade is also perfect for fish: salmon or black cod.
Soba Noodles
