Add meat to kasha? If yes, what worked ew

I’m thinking of making the usual kasha varnishkes into a main dish. Have you used it with beef, chicken or lamb? Seasoning or sauce ideas?

Nancy
  • Posted by: Nancy
  • November 2, 2023
  • 937 views
  • 5 Comments

5 Comments

Lori T. November 2, 2023
I've eaten it with both ground beef and lamb, and both were delicious. I actually added finely chopped leftover lamb from a roast once upon a time- just wanting to avoid wasting it, really, and it was wonderful. My sons are reluctant vegetarians for the most part, so I use a little ground beef or lamb and finely chopped mushrooms to make the one pot meal. Last winter I made it using Emma's recipe here, and added in 1/2 pound of ground lamb that I browned in the skillet when the onions were pretty near done. I also added in a goodly pinch of Herbs of Province, because I did not have fresh chives, and lamb likes that spice mix I think. I didn't think it needed a sauce of any sort, beyond the pasta water to help make it creamier. We had it with a grated beet and carrot salad on the side, in the French bistro style.
 
Nancy November 2, 2023
Lori - all sounds very good. On my shopping list to make soon!
 
Nancy November 19, 2023
Lori - thanks again!

Report after cooking - first batch went very well with addition of mushrooms, and used chives or scallions as garnish.

Main grocery store is short on herbs and spices, so I'll get some ingredients for Herbes de Provence from a specialty store or online, to make next version.
 
Lori T. November 19, 2023
I'm so glad to hear it went over well. This time of year my own grocery stores are kind of light on the fresh herbs and spices as well, and what they have is over-priced and not so "fresh". So out of season I also rely heavily on my dried stores, grown in my own garden or ordered online from Spice House. Highly recommend them and their flat packs. Funny, but after your post, I made a pot of kasha varnishkes using just mushrooms- and the dedicated meat eaters didn't even notice the lack of meat.
 
Nancy November 2, 2023
Question meant to read: what worked well?
 
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