Kasha

What would one think is the most common dish and a very big part of the Russian culture? In Russia, porridge, which is commonly referred to as Kasha, is a very common meal for both children and adults. For as long as I can remember, Kasha was everywhere. Everyone was cooking it, eating it, singing and watching cartoons about it.

I even remember that when I served in the Russian Army, Kasha was my favorite meal. Although I always liked the taste, it’s only now that I understand the nutritional importance of Kasha; it is especially valuable for growing children.

Kasha is a great dish and very easy to make. I will explain why it’s a great idea to prepare kasha. If you’re not a fan of the taste or don’t want to cook it for yourself, you should definitely consider making it for your kids. I will explain all of Kasha’s beneficial qualities and why it’s so great for you and your kids.

Listed are a few main reasons why each and every one of us should make Kasha a part of meals we consume daily.

• The most important thing about Kasha is that it is a very healthy dish. It is made of whole grains which are full of nutrients and don’t contain any artificial preservatives. I will not go into details as so why whole grains are nutritionally important; we all know how vital whole grains are to our daily food intake.
• Moreover, Kasha is extremely easy to cook and it is ready in a snap. Typically, preparing Kasha should not take you more than 15-20 minutes.

Now since you know all the great benefits of eating Kasha, you should be ready to get started with the cooking process. 

Great Kasha Recipes for Children and Adults:

Here are some facts from Russian History about Kasha:

Kasha was first introduced to the Russian people in 1239. It was introduced by Alexander Nevsky in Novgorod; ever since then it has become a traditional Russian food.

Kasha became very popular for two major reasons mentioned above. Kasha is so great because It’s extremely easy to cook, and it is a really great source of vitamins and nutrients.

Furthermore, Kasha can be made from a variety of ingredients. The most popular type of kasha is made from whole grains; however, you can also make it from fruits or vegetables, and it can be cooked in either water or milk. Using milk to prepare Kasha is a great way to give your kids a dish they will enjoy and one that will be filled with lots of vitamins.

Always remember, don’t be afraid to experiment with Kasha. You can modify the recipes until you get the perfect tasting dish.

Kasha Cooking Techniques:

1. Boiling – this is the easiest method of cooking Kasha. The uncooked grains are emerged in boiling water or milk. There is no set limit as to how much liquid is needed, you can always either add water or milk if you don’t have enough or remove it if it seems to be too much. The boiling method is definitely the easiest and should be used by all beginner cooks.
2. Absorption – this, I feel, is the most difficult method of cooking Kasha. You need to be an experienced cook to use this method mostly because you will have to know exactly how much water is needed for a set amount of grains. If you don’t have the measurements correctly, your Kasha will not taste very good. It may take a few tries to get this method down. However, once you do, the Kasha will taste great; my wife uses the absorption method to cook rice, and it is delicious!
3. Steaming – this is definitely the most time consuming method of cooking. Moreover, you will need to put a lot of effort into steaming Kasha. Frankly, I don’t prefer this method for cooking grains.