SUPER FAST / MODIFIED QUICK RELEASE / CAN BE VEGAN / GLUTEN-FREE

Buckwheat Pilaf

6 servings

Buckwheat may not sound gluten-free (“wheat,” after all); but it is not a cereal grain. It’s the seed from a grass cultivar not even distantly related to wheat. It cooks up sticky and thick, with a subtle texture of oats but with a more herbaceous flavor. Do not use kasha—that is, toasted buckwheat groats. The flavor will be far too strong, even bitter. Plain buckwheat groats go rancid quickly at room temperature. Store them in a sealed container in the freezer for up to 6 months.

1 tablespoon vegetable, corn, or canola oil; or butter

1 small yellow onion, chopped (½ cup)

2 medium celery ribs, thinly sliced (⅔ cup)

½ cup chopped pecans

½ cup dried cranberries

2 tablespoons packed fresh sage leaves, minced

1 tablespoon stemmed fresh thyme leaves

1 quart (4 cups) vegetable or chicken broth

2 cups raw buckwheat groats

½ teaspoon table salt

1.

Press the button for: SAUTÉ

Set it for: MEDIUM, NORMAL, or CUSTOM 300°F

Set the time for: 10 minutes

If necessary, press: START

2. Warm the oil for a minute or two (or melt the butter) in a 6- or 8-quart cooker. Add the onion and celery; cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion has softened, about 3 minutes. Add the pecans, cranberries, sage, and thyme; stir well until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

3. Pour in the broth, turn off the SAUTÉ function, and scrape up every speck of browned stuff on the pot’s bottom. Stir in the buckwheat and salt. Lock the lid onto the cooker.

4.

Set the machine for: PRESSURE COOK

Set the level for: MAX

The valve must be:

Set the time for: 3 minutes with the KEEP WARM setting off

If necessary, press: START

Set the machine for: PRESSURE COOK or MANUAL

Set the level for: HIGH

The valve must be: Closed

Set the time for: 5 minutes with the KEEP WARM setting off

If necessary, press: START

5. Use the quick-release method to bring the pot’s pressure back to normal—but do not open the pot. Set it aside with the lid latched and the pressure valve open for 7 minutes. Unlatch the lid and open the cooker. Stir well before serving.

Beyond

• You must halve the recipe for a 3-quart cooker.

• Because of varying amounts of moisture in uncooked groats, the pilaf may be a little soupy. If so, use the SAUTÉ function on MEDIUM, NORMAL, or CUSTOM 300°F to boil away the excess liquid, stirring almost constantly, 2 to 3 minutes. Be careful: The groats can quickly fuse to the pot’s bottom. Turn off the SAUTÉ function and immediately remove the hot insert from the pot to stop the cooking, continuing to stir the mixture a few times to keep the buckwheat from sticking.