How to cook buckwheat to make it crumbly
How to cook buckwheat properly (illustrative photo: Freepik)
Buckwheat is a versatile and healthy cereal that can be cooked in a variety of ways. However, to make it not only tasty but also crumbly, you need to know a few simple cooking rules.
Rinse buckwheat thoroughly
Before cooking buckwheat, it is important to rinse it thoroughly. Many people ignore this step, but it is very important to achieve a crumbly texture.
Rinsing helps to remove dust, dirt, and husk residue that can affect the flavor of the dish. Rinse buckwheat under cold water until the liquid becomes clear.
Observe the ratio of water to buckwheat
To make buckwheat crumbly, you need to determine the correct ratio of water to cereal.
For a classic recipe of boiled buckwheat, the ratio of 1 part buckwheat to 2 parts water is usually used. If you want drier and more crumbly buckwheat, you can reduce the amount of water to 1.5 parts per 1 part of buckwheat.
Roast buckwheat before cooking
To make buckwheat more flavorful and crumbly, you can fry it before cooking. To do this, heat a frying pan with a piece of butter or a drop of oil, and then fry the cereal for 2-3 minutes, stirring thoroughly.
Cook buckwheat over medium heat
After boiling, reduce the heat to medium and cook the buckwheat under the lid for 15-20 minutes. This will allow the buckwheat to absorb the right amount of moisture without boiling into a mushy mixture.
Do not open the lid during cooking
Another important tip is not to open the lid of the pot while cooking buckwheat. This will keep the heat in and help the groats cook evenly, which will help to achieve the perfect texture.
Do not stir
After adding the buckwheat to the water, it is important to cover the pan with a lid and cook over low heat for 15-20 minutes. Do not stir the buckwheat during cooking, as this can cause it to overcook and become sticky.
Leave buckwheat covered after cooking
After the buckwheat is cooked and all the liquid is absorbed, remove the pan from the heat and let the buckwheat stand for another 5-10 minutes under the lid to make the taste more intense and the cereal itself crumbly.
Add a little butter or oil
To make buckwheat more flavorful and soft, you can add a little butter or oil during cooking. This will not only improve the flavor but also help to make the cereal more crumbly. However, it is better to add butter to already boiled buckwheat.
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Sources: Serious Eats, Bon Appétit, The Kitchn, Yevhen Klopotenko's culinary website.
