This Buckwheat Bowl brings together roasted kasza, brown butter mushrooms, Napa slaw, and a tangy pickle dressing. Simple, satisfying, and deeply Polish.
Rinse ¾ cup buckwheat groats under cool water, then drain well.
In a medium pot, bring 1½ cups vegetable broth and ½ teaspoon kosher salt to a boil. Add the groats, then stir once.
Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 8–10 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed and the groats are tender. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff gently with a fork.
In a bowl, combine 1½ cups Napa cabbage and ½ cup radishes
Sprinkle with a Pinch of kosher salt, then gently massage the vegetables for about 30 seconds.
Let sit for 5 minutes so the cabbage softens slightly while staying crunchy. Add ½ tsp fresh lemon juice and toss. Set aside.
Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Carefully lower 2 large eggs into the water and cook for 7 minutes.
Immediately transfer the eggs to an ice bath and let them cool for about 5 minutes. Peel and set aside.
Heat a dry skillet over medium heat.
Add 3 tablespoons sunflower seeds, a small pinch of lightly crushed pinch of caraway seeds, a Pinch of kosher salt, and a few grinds of black pepper.
Toast for 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly golden. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
Heat the same skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil.
Add 10 oz baby bella mushrooms (sliced) in a single layer. Cook undisturbed for 3-5 minutes to develop color.
Continue cooking for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are deeply golden brown and their moisture has evaporated.
Add 1 shallot (sliced) and cook for another 2 minutes, until softened and lightly browned.
Add 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, ½ teaspoon dried marjoram, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and several grinds of black pepper.
Toss everything together and cook for 1 minute, letting the butter coat the mushrooms.
Transfer the mushrooms and shallot to a plate.
In a small bowl, whisk together: ½ cup Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon dill pickle (chopped), 1 tablespoon sunflower oil, 1 tablespoon pickle brine, 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons fresh dill, and several grinds of black pepper.
If the dressing is too thick to drizzle, whisk in 1–2 tsp water until it's spoonable.
Divide the warm buckwheat between 2 bowls.
Top each with half the cooked mushrooms and shallots, then add half the Napa-radish slaw and 0.25 cup sauerkraut.
Halve the 2 jammy eggs and nestle one egg into each bowl.
Drizzle each bowl with the dill-pickle dressing.
Scatter over the toasted sunflower-caraway crunch and finish with plenty of fresh dill and freshly ground black pepper.
Serve while the buckwheat and mushrooms are warm, with the cool, crunchy slaw and dressing on the side.
Notes
Cook buckwheat in broth, not water. Broth adds a layer of flavor that water just doesn't. Taste the dressing before you pour. Pickle brine varies in saltiness by brand.