What is buckwheat and where can you buy it?

|buck-wheat|

Adam Bush

Published: May 2, 2020 at 12:02 AM

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Discover what buckwheat is, where to shop for it, and how to use it in our ingredient glossary

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Check out our guide to buckwheat, including where to buy it and plenty of recipe inspiration, then read about what is gram flour, coconut flour and almond flour.

What is buckwheat?

Buckwheat is technically not a grain (and is actually related to rhubarb) but can be used in much the same way, simmered until soft and tossed through salads or in soups and stews. It can be ground into flour which is famous in France as an ingredient in crêpes, and is also used to make Japanese soba noodles. Buckwheat has no gluten so can be used in gluten-free baking recipes.

Where to buy buckwheat

LOVE Life Buckwheat, £1.99/375g, Waitrose

Buy Whole Foods Online Organic Buckwheat, £6.66/1kg, Amazon

Buy Whole Foods Online Organic Buckwheat Flour £7.32/1kg, Amazon

Buckwheat recipes

Check out plenty more buckwheat recipe inspiration here.

Buckwheat tarts with rice pudding and blackberries

This pretty dessert recipe comes from Olia Hercules and makes a great gluten-free dessert.

Buckwheat Tarts Recipe with Rice Pudding and Blackberries

Buckwheat pancakes

This recipe for cinnamon, gluten-free buckwheat pancakes with maple syrup, yogurt, and fresh raspberries comes in at under 300 calories per serving.

Ham, spinach and egg buckwheat galette

This ham, spinach and egg buckwheat galette pancake is easy to make, low calorie and gluten-free, making it perfect for a midweek meal.

Ukrainian cauliflower fritters

In Ukraine, all sorts of things, from schnitzel to whole river fish are fried in batter. Here, cauliflower gets the treatment. These easy fritters with a simple dip make for great snacks, ready in just 25 minutes.

Snackbar rice bowl with karaage chicken

This colourful rice bowl from Dalston restaurant Snackbar is comforting, healthy-ish and full of wonderful textures and flavours: from Japanese crunchy fried chicken and zingy pickles, to a gooey, creamy egg yolk.