Easy classic kasha varnishkes is an old-school Jewish Ashkenazi recipe of toasted buckwheat groats (kasha) with tender bowtie pasta (varnishkes) and sautéed onions that's dairy-free and vegetarian (pareve).
Kasha varnishkes (buckwheat and bowties in Yiddish) stem from a classis Eastern European dish of kasha-filled dumplings brought to New York by Jewish immigrants in the late 1800s, and sometime thereafter, bowtie noodles replaced the traditional dumplings.
This 5-ingredient recipe is made without any meat or dairy ingredients, so it's vegetarian and pareve.
It pairs nicely with almost any main dish and is simple enough for family weeknight dinners but impressive enough to serve to guests or bring to potlucks with friends.
And buckwheat has health benefits!
A Little About Jewish Ashkenazi Cuisine
Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine is a collection of foods and recipes created by Eastern European Jews each often a twist from the country it was developed in and adapted by their descendants after they emigrated to Western countries, including the United States.
Ashkenazi food is generally not expensive, as Eastern European Jewish communities were often poor and had to use affordable ingredients that were easily accessible.
Since it was often and typically illegal for Jews in Eastern European countries to own land, they couldn't readily grow their own crops, so their recipes don't include many types of vegetables.
Like Jewish Ashkenazi food?
Try Matzo Balls.
Pantry essentials I keep in my kitchen
I make sure to keep a large variety of seasonings, spices, and other cooking essentials in my cupboards to be able to make many various recipes without having to plan too much ahead. These include:
- salt (my recipes use regular table salt)
- ground black or white pepper
- granulated garlic or garlic powder (I prefer granulated)
- onion powder
- sweet paprika and/or sweet pepper flakes (paprika is ground dried red pepper, pepper flakes are crushed dried red pepper)
- hot paprika, hot pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper (moderately spicy dried ground chili pepper) for those occasional spicy dishes
- ground turmeric
- ground cumin
- ground cinnamon
- ground ginger
- ground nutmeg
- ground cloves (for pumpkin flavors)
- sugar (granulated)
- brown sugar
- chicken consommé powder / beef bouillon powder (regular or vegetarian)
- onion soup mix
- onion flakes (substitute for fresh onion-3 tablespoons for 1 medium onion).
- various herbs
- oil / margarine / butter / cooking spray
- coconut cream as a dairy-free cream substitute
- flavorless milk substitute as a dairy-free milk alternative
- cornstarch as a thickening agent
- flour
- baking powder
- baking soda
- bread crumbs or cornflake crumbs (you can make these with your blender or food processor) for coating
- condiments, such as ketchup, mustard, and barbecue sauce
- tomato sauce/tomato paste/canned tomatoes-diced or crushed/pasta sauce
- soy sauce (makes a great flavoring for savory foods)
Plus, I always have eggs in the fridge and onions, rice, and potatoes on the shelves, as well as pasta.
What do you need to make Easy Kasha Varnishkes?
I hardly ever make a meal plan, so while I like to keep essentials in my kitchen, if you don't, these are all you need to have on hand to make this recipe even last-minute!
onions
oil
kasha (buckwheat groats)
varnishkes (small bowtie noodles)
vegetarian chicken consommé powder
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) for Kasha Varnishkes
What is kasha varnishkes?
Kasha varnishkes is a traditional Ashkenazi Jewish side dish made from toasted buckwheat groats (kasha) combined with bow-tie pasta (varnishkes) and caramelized sautéed onions.
Is kasha gluten-free?
While kasha (buckwheat groats) is naturally a gluten-free grain, traditional kasha varnishkes is not gluten-free because it is combined with standard wheat-based bow-tie pasta. To make it gluten-free, you would need to use a certified gluten-free pasta substitute.
Is this recipe vegetarian and pareve?
Yes. This recipe is completely meat-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and pareve, making it ideal to serve alongside both meat and dairy meals in a kosher kitchen.
Can I make kasha varnishkes ahead of time?
Yes, kasha varnishkes reheats very well. You can make it a day in advance, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and reheat it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a tiny splash of water or broth to restore moisture.
Easy Classic Vegetarian Kasha Varnishkes Recipe
Delicious, dairy-free, and easy-to-make buckwheat (kasha) and bowtie pasta (varnishkes).
Ingredients
- 2 onions, chopped
- 2 to 3 tablespoons oil
- 1 cup kasha (buckwheat groats)
- ½ box varnishkes (small bowtie noodles)
- 2 tablespoons vegetarian chicken consommé powder or to taste
- 2 cups boiling water
Instructions
- Cook the varnishkes (bowtie noodles) as directed on the packaging and drain.
- Sauté onion in 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil. Remove to a plate.
- In the same pan that you sautéed the onions, toast the kasha (buckwheat groats) in 1 tablespoon of oil until it has slightly browned.
- Add boiling water
- Cook on medium low until the water has boiled out (or as per the directions on the box of kasha).
- Add varnishkes and sautéed onions to the kasha and mix well until everything is combined evenly.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 81Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 78mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 2g
