Buckwheat and Beef Pilaf (Plov

• Meat

  • 1 lbs Beef chuck

• Produce

  • 3 Carrots, large
  • 1 Onion, large

• Pasta & Grains

  • 2 1/2 cups Buckwheat groats

• Baking & Spices

  • 1 tsp Cumin spice
  • 2 tsp Salt

• Oils & Vinegars

  • 1/3 cup Olive oil

• Dairy

  • 8 tbsp Butter, unsalted

• Liquids

  • 4 1/4 cups Water, filtered

• Other

  • 1 Full head of unpeeled garlic

Found on natashaskitchen.com

Description

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup olive oil
• 8 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 to 1¼ lbs beef (chuck, sirloin or good quality stew meat), trimmed of fat and cut into ½ to ¾ thick pieces
• 3 large carrots, julienned
• 2.5 cups buckwheat groats (aka grechka)
• 4¼ cups cold filtered water + 1 cup hot water
• 2 tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper, or to taste (I use sea salt)
• 1 tsp cumin spice to taste
• 1 full head of unpeeled garlic

Directions

• Set a large heavy-bottomed stock pot or dutch oven over medium/high heat and add ⅓ cup olive oil and 4 Tbsp butter. Add onion and sauté, stirring occasionally until softened (about 5 min).
• Add cubed beef and sauté 5 min, turning once (beef will not be fully cooked). Add julienned carrots and stir another minute.
• Add 4¼ cups cold water and season with 1 tsp cumin, 2 tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper or to taste. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a low simmer, cover and cook 1 hour.
• Meanwhile (about 10 min before your timer is up), heat a large non-stick skillet over medium/high heat and melt in 4 Tbsp butter. Add 2½ cups buckwheat and toast until golden, stirring often (3-5 min). Pour buckwheat into the pot in an even layer and gently pour enough hot water to cover buckwheat ½ above the level of the buckwheat (I added 1 cup hot water).
• Cut garlic head in half parallel to the base to expose cloves and place over the top of buckwheat, cut-sides-down, pushing into the buckwheat slightly. Cook uncovered over med heat until most of the surface liquid boils out (10 min).
• Poke 8-10 holes through the buckwheat to allow steam to escape to the surface, then cover with lid, reduce heat to the lowest setting and let pot sit another 30 minutes. Remove garlic and stir everything gently to combine. P.S. you can squeeze garlic cloves out of their skins and serve them in the pilaf if you wish.