what the heck is 'kasha'?

Tonight's episode had george's parents' house smelling like dandruff and something called "kasha" (I know I'm probably not spelling it right).

What the heck is this?

In article Colin Law writes:

Its a grain that you cook by stir-frying and then boiling. When you walk into a home when they've been cooking this, there is a distinct smell. Basically prepared in Jewish homes. (I know Costanza is Italian, but I think George's mother might be Jewish?)

In Colin Law writes:

Jewish food. Hard to explain, yet very tastey. (Not unlike a Junior Mint)

Kascha is boiled buckwheat.

[email] (Mark Verschell) writes:

Gosh, I missed that episode of The Little Rascals! ;-)

Colin Law writes:

It's a Jewish, or at least Eastern European, dish made of fried wheat and onions. It has a very distinctive smell.

Actually kascha is just boiled grain (in particular buckwheat <- again the grain, not the actor, or even Eddie Murphy :)

Kascha Varnischkas (pardon my transliteration) is Kascha with sauteed (OK fried) onions and bow-tie pasta. Since many people refer to this as simply kascha (it's pretty much the only dish I have had with kascha in it - and I like it, but it does smell a little --- funky) I assume this is the disk they referred to, not just the boiled grain.

In [email] (Mark Verschell) writes:

Is this a type of health food? Then I doubt that the Costanzas would be eating it. I thought they meany _cassia_ (pronounced kasha), which is a type of tree or shrub that produces a seasoning that can also be used as a laxative (thus explaining why the Costanzas would be using it). I seriously doubt that the Costanzas would be eating anything as exotiv as what you described. Dave

Exotic??? Oh, no offense but I see you come from manitoba. Probably not too many people of eastern european descent around. Kascha is like jewish soul food. A very plain, simple dish. How exotic is it to fry onions and mix with boiled grains and pasta? As far as healthy, considering the amount of oil the onions are usually fried in, it's probably not approved by the U.S. surgeon general :)

MA> Exotic??? Oh, no offense but I see you come from manitoba. MA> Probably not too many people of eastern european descent around.

I see you don't know much about Manitoba. Manitoba has a large Ukrainian minority.

Like I said, no offense. Having lived in Seattle for many, many years I find that unlike the stereotype I not only do not underestimate Canada, but I also do not think of Canada as USA North.

I will make you a deal. You tell me what you know about North Florida and I will tell you what I know about Manitoba :^)

In article ,

Health food??? FRIED ONIONS! MUSHROOM GRAVY! BOW-TIE EGG NOODLES! This stuff is all mixed with the grain to make it tasty and UN-healthy. There is nothing exotic about Kasha. There are dozens of restaraunts in New York that serve it. There are references to things Jewish littered throughout Seinfeld (see: The Mohel). I could tell from the way they said it that they were talking about Kasha, I'll bet you a vat full! Now, cassia, *that* I have never heard of. I doubt they would have been referring to something as exotic as cassia.

One of the funniest 'battles' in my parents' household is over Kasha. My mom's side of the family is from Poland via Israel. My father is from Hungary.

My grandmother & my mom *love* kasha -- it's part of the culture.

My father *HATES* kasha.

As he explains it: "When I was growing up in Hungary, all the fairy tales had the wicked witch forcing little kids to eat KASHA."

-=gt;Dave<$=-

With all the discussion about kasha, I thought I would post the recipe I use for Kasha Varnishkas.

	Kasha Varnishkas
	----------------
1 cup buckwheat groats		2 cups boiling water
1 egg				1/2 t. salt
6 T. chicken or vegetable fat	2 cups cooked bow-tie noodles
1 large onion, chopped

Add buckwheat and unbeaten egg to a large frying pan. Mix well. Over low heat, stir constantly to evenly coat buckwheat. Add salt, 2T. fat and boiling water. Cover and cook for 30-45 minutes - until the buckwheat is thoroughly cooked (more water may need to be added). Meanwhile, cook the onions in 2T. fat until tender. When buckwheat is done, add the onions, noodles and the remaining fat; season to taste with salt and pepper; and cook gently until thoroughly heated.

Then, of course, there's always Kasha and Mushrooms, Kasha Knishes, Kasha Stuffing...

Mark Verschell ([email]) wrote: |With all the discussion about kasha, I thought I would post the recipe |I use for Kasha Varnishkas.

| Kasha Varnishkas | ---------------- |1 cup buckwheat groats 2 cups boiling water [deletia]

OK, all at once: "What the hell are groats?"

Well, things in this world are getting pretty sad. I guess I could easily understand someone not knowing what groats are. However, with all of the hard copy and software dictionaries around, for someone to not have the energy to look up this (common) word, and instead inflict the net with a posting asking for a definition? Sigh....

Anglo saxons. Hmmph. No wonder I can't get any decent ingredients at the grocery store...

-dh