This creamy buckwheat mushroom risotto makes for such a fun twist on the classic risotto recipe! Loaded with nutrients, easy and so full of earthy flavors, this meal is great on nights where you are craving a filling and satisfying plate. Dairy-free and gluten-free.
I have been wanting to share a risotto recipe for a while now! The creamy yumminess, background flavor of cooked white wine, cheesy & salty little something: there is so much to enjoy from a cozy bowl of homemade risotto.
So I finally made it, but twisted the classic recipe to make it healthier and fuller in fiber and protein. Usually, arborio rice is the grain used to make risotto, but I used whole buckwheat seeds instead and it is so yummy. This might shock you, but try it and I can assure you that you will love it. We love the heartiness from buckwheat that also gives such a delicious nutty flavor to the whole creamy meal.
Let's not pretend that I invented buckwheat risotto though, the concept has been around for while. I made a buckwheat risotto the first time using beets (recipe from Deliciously Ella's cookbook) and was hooked right away. Who does not love a bowl of pink creamy food? Anyway, since then, I often make risotto using buckwheat instead of rice and we LOVE it. And this buckwheat mushroom risotto is definitely a favorite.
Plus, you know how much I love buckwheat! I shared a few buckwheat flour recipes, such as this buckwheat chia bread or this banana buckwheat pancakes, but it is actually very nice to use the whole seed itself instead of flour.
Compared to using a regular arborio white rice, in this case, expect a risotto that's chewier, with more flavors and that will fill you up so much better. Paired with chewy roasted mushrooms, sweet leeks and tender spinach, this dish makes for such a treat!
Hope you give it a try ❤️
What is buckwheat and health benefits
Although buckwheat looks, cooks and is served like a grain, it is actually a seed. Just like quinoa, it can also be called a pseudo cereal and unlike wheat, it does not grow on grass, but is related to rhubarb and sorrel instead.
On top of that, even though its name contain the word "wheat", it has nothing to do with wheat and is completely gluten-free!
Buckwheat became more popular in recent years, but has been harvested and eaten for centuries in Asia and Eastern Europe. It is loaded with nutrients and even is called a superfood by some. To give a few examples, it is known to carries lots of complex carbohydrates, but also protein and is rich in minerals. It is also packed with antioxidants!
Why we LOVE this recipe
- Healthy and provides extra nutrients compared to regular white risotto.
- Buckwheat carries lots of flavor on its own.
- Easy and quick, even slightly faster to make than regular risotto.
- Creamy and cozy consistency, perfect for when craving comfort food!
- Rustic & satisfying with lots of umami flavors.
Ingredients you'll need
- Buckwheat groats: aim for regular buckwheat groats, DO NOT use kasha (roasted buckwheat).
- Mushrooms: I used regular white mushrooms and used the whole package of 16 oz because I'm a big fan of them. Use less if you want it less mushroom-y.
- Leeks: I love to use leeks when making risotto for their mildly pungent flavor, but also subtle sweetness.
- Garlic: yummy garlic risotto, you will need 3 cloves to make it, which will boost the flavor.
- Spinach: I used baby leaves, but large spinach leaves work too, simply chop them in smaller pieces.
- Vegetable broth: definitely use a high-quality broth that you like as it will flavor the risotto.
- White wine: you will need a dry white wine for best flavor.
- Nutritional yeast: adds a subtle cheesy flavor.
- Creamer: not shown in the picture and totally optional, but I like to stir in some vegan creamer at the end when the risotto is all done. It does not add much flavor, but mostly turns the risotto creamier and richer. I simply use my flavorless coffee creamer from the company Nut Pod.
How to make it
Roast the mushrooms
In a large pan, roast the sliced mushrooms on medium-high heat until they lose most of their water and become nicely golden brown. Try not to move them around too much in the pan so they can roast (as opposed to steaming them) and keep your heat high enough to help them brown. Add some salt to taste.
When done, remove from the heat and set aside.
Make the risotto
Transfer the vegetable broth to a medium pot and warm up on medium heat. If it starts to boil or simmer, then turn down the heat. You want to keep the broth warm without boiling.
In another medium pot, start by cooking the leeks. Use a little oil or water so they don't stick and cook on medium-high heat for about 5 minutes or until soft. Then, add the garlic, cook for one more minute while stirring and then add the raw buckwheat. Stir and toast the seeds for 1-2 minutes.
Add the wine and stir well. Once the wine has mostly cooked down, then add a small amount of warm vegetable broth (about a full ladle, just enough to barely cover the buckwheat) and stir well. Keep cooking on medium heat while watching carefully. Once the buckwheat has absorbed most of the broth, then add another ladle-full and stir. Keep adding broth small amount at a time until the buckwheat is tender, but not mushy, just the same way you cook a classic risotto.
Combine and finish up
Once the buckwheat is tender, then add some salt, nutritional yeast and the roasted mushrooms. Stir well and add a little extra broth if it looks too dry. Then top with the spinach (it will seem like a lot!) and stir/cover until the leaves are all wilted, about 5 minutes.
When the leaves are soft, remove from the heat and taste to adjust saltiness. Also, adjust the finale texture by adding an extra splash of broth if needed so it is nicely creamy. I also like to add a few tablespoons of my vegan coffee creamer to make the risotto richer, but that's totally optional.
Serve and enjoy right away with a side of bread.
Watch how to make it
Cooking tips
- When cooking the mushrooms, be sure to let them roast nicely before flipping/stirring. You want to let them brown as opposed to steaming them, which means not to move them around in the pan too much.
- You will cook the buckwheat just the same way as cooking a regular risotto. I usually need about 2 ½-3 cups of broth, but adjust and taste as you go to evaluate how much broth you will need. You want the grain tender, but still chewy. Don't overcook and try to avoid a mushy consistency!
- Taste and adjust saltiness. Depending on the broth you used, you might need to add more or less. I have to say though that I am not usually heavy on salt but when making this recipe, I'll salt a little more, both the mushrooms and the risotto.
- Don't underestimate the effect the lemon juice has on this earthy meal! It really brightens up the whole risotto. I love to serve with a side of lemon wedges so people can add as much as they want.
Variations to the recipe
Making a buckwheat mushroom risotto is pretty forgiving and there are many different ways you can change up the recipe to make it your own.
You can definitely use a yellow onion instead of the leek and add some dried herbs, especially thyme, when cooking the risotto. But also, you can have fun and use all sort of different kind of mushrooms, such as shiitake, cremini, oyster or enoki.
While we are talking about mushrooms, it is worth mentioning that this recipe is kind mushroom heavy, which is amazing if you are a mushroom lover like I am. But if you prefer, feel free to use only half the mushrooms and include other veggies such as butternut squash, red pepper, asparagus, green peas, etc.
Serving suggestions
I did not have my fav vegan parmesan ready-to-go at the time I took the pictures (what a shame!). But if you can, it is worth the extra 5 minutes to make some. The almond parmesan adds nutrition, but also extra cheesy and salty flavor.
Also, when done roasting the mushrooms, try to keep a few apart on a plate before transferring them to the risotto so you can use the extra ones to garnish the bowls when serving (as seen in the pictures). It gives it a beautiful look!
This risotto is really loaded with flavor, so I found it at its best when served with a side of crusty bread (oh hello more carbs) to dip in the sauce.
Add some lemon wedges so you can squeeze some extra tangy juice over. It brightens up the meal and brings all the flavors together. Also sprinkle with fresh parsley or chives if you have any.
Storage
Classic risotto is known not to store very well and this is the same with this buckwheat version. The mixture simply absorbs all the creaminess and becomes firm as it chills. Thus, I do not recommend to make this recipe ahead.
If you end up with some leftovers, then you can reheat using the stove or the microwave, but you will have to add extra broth to make it creamy again. The overall texture will be much softer, but the flavors still will be great.
More vegan mushroom recipes
- Lentil mushroom meatloaf
- Mashed potato stuffed mushrooms
- Mushroom lentil shepherd's pie
- Wild rice mushroom soup
- Mushroom vegan stroganoff
- Tempeh mushroom stew
- Mushroom couscous
- Mushroom aglio olio
I hope you like this buckwheat mushroom risotto as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!
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📖 Recipe
Buckwheat Mushroom Risotto with Spinach
Ingredients
- 10-16 oz mushrooms - sliced
- 1 medium size leek - or yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves of garlic - crushed
- 1 cup raw buckwheat groats - NOT toasted or kasha
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 2 ½-3 cups vegetable broth - or as needed
- 8 oz spinach - I used baby leaves
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp salt - or to taste
- 2-3 tbsp plain vegan creamer - optional, see notes
Instructions
- Warm up a large pan on medium-high heat with or without oil. Then, add the mushrooms, a pinch of salt and cook until they lost most of their water and turned golden brown. Avoid moving the mushrooms too often or they will steam and you won't be able to get a nice crust on them.
- Once cooked, set the mushrooms aside.
- Transfer the broth in a medium pot and warm up on medium heat. If it starts to simmer then turn the heat down, you simply want to keep the broth warm.
- Warm up a second pot on medium-high heat. Then, add the leek and cook stirring often until tender, about 5 minutes. Add a little oil or water to prevent them from sticking to the bottom.
- Add the garlic, cook for 1 minute or so and then add the buckwheat. Stir and let the seeds toast for about 1-2 minutes. Then, add the white wine and cook for about one more minute or until the wine is almost all cooked down.
- Then, add a full ladle of the warm broth or enough to barely cover the buckwheat and stir well. Keep cooking on medium heat and add some more broth, small amount at the time, whenever the mixture becomes a little dry (just the same as you do when cooking a regular risotto).
- Taste as you go to see when the buckwheat is done to your taste, should take about 15-20 minutes to be done. You want the seeds to be tender, but not mushy.
- Once cooked, add the mushrooms, nutritional yeast and salt. Stir to combine.
- Then, add the spinach. It will look like there is too much greens, but they will cook down a lot. I often cover the pot to help the green steam and wilt and also you might need to add some more broth if it becomes too dry or if it tends to stick to the bottom.
- The risotto is ready when the spinach is tender, which might take about 2 minutes or so.
- Remove from the heat, taste again to adjust salt and if you have some, you can add a small amount of vegan creamer to add creaminess, but that's optional. Also add an extra splash of broth to make the consistency rich and creamy.
- Serve with a side of bread and add lemon wedges on plates so everyone can brighten up their risotto as they wish with the tangy juice.
Video
Notes
- Storage: just the same as regular risotto, this buckwheat risotto is better when eaten right away and does not store well. I do not recommend making it ahead.
- I added a little bit (2-3 tablespoons) of my tasteless vegan coffee creamer from Nut Pod at the end to make my risotto creamier. You could add a little coconut milk if you had any on hands, but that's totally optional.
- I used a whole container of 16 oz of mushrooms, because we are huge fan of them! But if you prefer, feel free to use a 8 or 10 oz package of mushrooms and even, add other veggies such as cooked squash, red pepper or asparagus.
- I highly recommend to serve with lemon wedges. The tangy juice really brighten up the meal!
- Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.
NUTRITION
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This looks like EXACTLY what I wanted to find when I started my search! I love buckwheat (and not so crazy about the toasted variety -- oops, sorry folks -- PLUS we were out foraging and found a TON of black trumpet mushrooms! Obviously, I will not cook those mushrooms very long before adding them to the sauce pan, as they are delicate and have hollow stems.
This is going to be great to use as my guide, as I try something "new" and fun, using buckwheat groats (yay!) in place of rice. Thanks for the recipe!
This was great, what a delicious way to use up my bag of buckwheat!
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! 😊