Buckwheat Salad with Grilled Scallops is the perfect summer seafood salad for the patio.
If you are new to buckwheat recipes, this is a great place to start. Healthy and nutritious. Easy salad recipe that works as an appetizer or main dish.
Salads are so versatile. You can eat them for lunch or create a little heartier version for a nice dinner option. Adding protein is a great way to boost both flavour and substance.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this cold buckwheat salad can be found at the bottom of this post.
We love adding seafood to our creations, especially when we are making a dinner salad.
- Smoked Salmon Salad is one of our go-to meals. Cucumber noodles are fun to make and eat.
- Shrimp and Grits Salad is a fun take on a classic southern meal. Another delicious grain-based meal.
Buckwheat Salad Has Lots Of Healthy Ingredients
Nutritious and healthy, filled with lots of great tastes and textures:
- (affiliate) cold cooked buckwheat groats
- pumpkin seeds
- goji berries
- nectarines
- oranges
- hemp seeds
- pomegranate balsamic vinegar
- seared scallops
All these ingredients combined create a wonderful grain-based meal that is gluten-free too.
Have you tried my Mushroom and Barley Casserole? Such a great one-dish dinner. It’s like baked barley risotto.
What Is Buckwheat?
A super healthy grain that packs a punch in the protein department. It also contains a great amount of fibre.
Wonderful meat alternative, and even works in vegan recipes. Helps to improve heart health, promote weight loss, and regulates blood sugar too.
Kasha is toasted buckwheat groats. It has a stronger, nuttier flavour. You can also get buckwheat flour (perfect for pancakes).
Soba noodles are actually buckwheat noodles.
Cooking Buckwheat
This highly nutritious whole grain can be cooked in water, milk, or broth. It is as simple to make as white rice. Check package directions for exact instructions.
Always rinse before cooking. 1 cup of uncooked groats yields 2 cups of cooked buckwheat.
It can be eaten hot (like porridge) and used in sweet and savoury recipes.
Making The Salad
Everything for this delicious seafood salad can be done ahead of time. All you have to do is sear or grill the scallops just before serving.
- Cook the groats according to the package directions and let cool.
- Make the dressing.
- Dice up the nectarines.
- Combine the goji berries, pumpkin seeds, nectarines, and buckwheat in a bowl.
- Add a few tablespoons of dressing and combine.
- Grill or sear the scallops.
- Place some greens on the plate.
- Top with the buckwheat salad mixture.
- Top with the grilled scallops.
- Drizzle with more dressing.
- Garnish with hemp seeds.
Recipe Suggestions
You also have the opportunity to swap out ingredients too. For instance, I used pomegranate balsamic in this recipe. Feel free to experiment. Check out some other great flavoured vinegars at MyOlive.
If you don’t have access to (affiliate) goji berries you can substitute cranberries or (affiliate) dried blueberries.
You can sear the scallops on the stovetop or grill them on the bbq.
In this recipe I used butter lettuce as the base. You can replace that with:
- spinach
- kale
- mixed greens
- romaine
- arugula
Looking for more healthy seafood meals? I have a few nutritious recipes for you to try:
- Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers made with crab, spinach, and goat cheese.
- Quinoa Tuna Casserole is an updated version of the classic noodle casserole mom used to make.
- Tuna Avocado Salad is an awesome and hearty main dish. Easy summer eating!!
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Summer Buckwheat Salad with Grilled Scallops
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1 cup uncooked white buckwheat
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup goji berries
- ¾ cup diced fresh nectarines
- 12 fresh scallops
- dash red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoons oil for searing the scallops (your choice)
- 1 tablespoons hemp seeds
- 3 cups fresh greens (lettuce, kale, spinach, butter lettuce)
For the Dressing:
- 1 Cara Cara orange
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 1 ounce pomegranate balsamic vinegar
- 1 ½ teaspoons agave nectar
Instructions
- Cook the buckwheat in 2 cups of cold water for about 10-12 minutes. DON'T overcook. Drain excess liquid and rinse well with cold water to stop the cooking process. Buckwheat should still have a firm texture. Place in bowl to cool.
- For the Dressing: Peel the orange and puree. Use a blender or immersion blender for this process. NOTE: If the orange is dry add about 1 oz. of water.
- Slowly blend in olive oil.
- Add pomegranate balsamic vinegar.
- Add agave nectar.
- Dice nectarines. Add the nectarines, pumpkin seeds and goji berries to the cooled buckwheat.
- Add some of the dressing to the mixture and place in the fridge to allow the flavours to blend.
- Heat a cast iron skillet (we did ours on the BBQ) with some olive oil added.
- Sprinkle the scallops with red pepper flakes.
- Sear on both sides.
- Place some greens on a plate (I used butter lettuce)
- Add the buckwheat salad.
- Top with seared scallops.
- Drizzle with additional dressing.
- Sprinkle with hemp seeds.
Laura Funk
I have never tried buckwheat but it looks really yummy.
Chef G
It has a nice nutty taste.
Kerri
I love scallops! This looks like a delicious meal that I would love to make. I definitely have to get some buckwheat and give it a try.
Chef G
Buckwheat is great!!
Mariana
This looks so fresh and delicious! I make scallops often so I’m going to try your recipe!
Chef G
Thanks…hope you enjoy it.
Amanda Love
This looks so amazing. I don’t think I’ve actually have anything like that. I might be giving this a shot. I’m actually looking into making new dishes this year.
Chef G
Well I hope you enjoy it!!
Rosey
I haven’t had orange dressing for such a good long while. That does sound like a good recipe.
Chef G
Thanks…give it a try.
Bri
What a delicious light and healthy meal this is. I would so love to try the orange dressing sauce.
Chef G
Thanks…it is delicious!!
keikilani
It’s been so long since I have had scallops. This recipe looks delicious.
Chef G
Scallops are so quick and easy.
Amanda
This recipe looks so colorful and delicious! I’ve never had buckwheat, so this is a must try for me!
Chef G
It has a nice nutty texture.
Heather lawrence
My hubby loves scallops so this salad would be a hit!
It looks like it’s a meal in one to be totally honest with you.
Chef G
It certainly can be a meal in one…either way it’s awesome.
Robin Rue (@massholemommy)
That sounds wicked good. I can’t wait to try it.
Chef G
Hope you enjoy them.
Ashley @Irishred02
I have been reading more into cooking with buckwheat. This recipe looks like something I would love- scallops- yum!
Chef G
Thanks…and buckwheat is great.
Shreyashi
You had me at hello.
Scallops go very well with oranges. Just wanted to know I don’t have cara caras. I am assuming any other navel orange would be a good enough substitute?
The photo is beautiful.
Cheers!
Chef G
Yes any orange variety would work….I just happen to like cara cara oranges, but they are seasonal. Thanks for the photo compliment.
Sarah
Proof that healthy tastes delicious – this looks fab!
Chef G
Thanks!! Yes healthy can be delicious!!
Adriana
Looks delicious, if I had any of those ingredients I’d love to try it lol. Beautiful pictures!
Chef G
Well the ingredients are pretty simple….for the buckwheat and goji berries check out the affiliate links on my site.
suki
:::)! SHould try this! Looks healthy and tasty!
Chef G
Yes it is healthy….we actually loved it!! Great that healthy can taste so good.