In English, kasha typically refers to buckwheat or dishes made from it. In various East-Central and Eastern European countries, however, kasha can denote any type of cooked grain. While it may be baked, it is most commonly boiled in water or milk. As such, the term often overlaps with the English word "porridge", though it can also refer to the unprepared grain itself, aligning with the meaning of "groats".
Across Eastern Europe the term can apply to wheat, barley, oats, millet and rye, not just buckwheat. Kashas have been an important element of Slavic diet for at least 1,000 years.
This English-language usage probably originated with Jewish immigrants, as did the form קאַשי kashi (literally translated as "porridges").