Ingredients

1 cup whole kasha
1-1/4 cups red wine or vegetable broth
1-1/4 cups tomato juice
1 ounce butter
2 cups fresh bread crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped red, yellow and/or green bell pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
1 ounce worcestershire sauce (optional)
1/2 cup fine-ground kasha
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Cucumber-Yogurt Dressing (optional) Recipe follows

In a saucepan, cook and stir kasha until toasted, about 3 minutes. Add wine, tomato juice and butter; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Cool.

In a bowl, combine bread crumbs, bell pepper, onion, celery, eggs, barbecue sauce and Worcestershire, if using. Stir in cooled kasha.

To prepare each patty: Form about 3/4 cup kasha mixture into a 1/2-thick patty. Coat on both sides with fine-ground kasha. Chill until firm.

To cook patties: Over medium heat, heat oil in a large skillet (preferably nonstick). Cook patties until crisp and golden, about 8 minutes, turning once.

Serve burgers topped with Cucumber Yogurt Dressing or, if desired, on a bun with sliced onion and Cucumber-Yogurt Dressing or spicy barbecue sauce.
YIELD: 6 portions

Cucumber-Yogurt Dressing: Combine 1/3 cup plain low fat yogurt with 1/4 cup peeled, seeded and finely diced cucumber, 1/2 teaspoon garlic and 1/8 teaspoon salt.

Kasha Loaf: Lightly spray inside of an 8- x 4-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Dust pan with fine-ground kasha, tapping sides and bottom to remove excess. Prepare kasha mixture as described above; lightly pack in prepared pan. Bake at 350ºF until top is firm to the touch and loaf begins to pull away from sides, about 50 minutes.