Kutia – Wheat berry dessert
Kutia is a traditional Eastern European sweet dish, often served during Christmas and other festive occasions. It features wheat berries as its main ingredient, signifying hope and immortality. This sweet concoction is saturated with aromatic honey, poppy seeds symbolizing wealth and sleep, and various nuts providing a crunchy texture. Often, it’s enriched with dried fruits such as raisins or apricots, making it a rich and nutritious dessert. Kutia is a beloved ritual dish with deep cultural and spiritual significance, and it's usually served cold. It's a comforting, sweet, and slightly chewy dessert that's meant to be shared with family and friends during the holiday season. Description by ChatGPT.
Kutia is a traditional Ukrainian sweet porridge that symbolizes unity and is a staple during the festive Christmas season. This comforting and meaningful dish is made from pearled wheat, sweetened with honey, and mixed with nuts and poppy seeds. It is customary to prepare 12 different vegetarian foods for Christmas Eve, known as "Sviata Vecheria," with kutia being the first to be served. Let's bring a piece of Ukrainian tradition to your table with this heartwarming recipe, courtesy of the Kramarczuk Sausage Company.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups pearled wheat
- 3 cups water, for soaking
- 3 cups water, for cooking
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1 cup raisins, soaked in hot water for 30 minutes
- 5 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons hot water
- 1/3 cup poppy seed filling
- Salt, to taste
- Sugar, optional, to taste
Instructions:
1. Begin by rinsing the pearled wheat several times.
2. Place the wheat in a bowl and cover with 3 cups of water. Leave it to soak for 2 to 3 hours or ideally, overnight.
3. After soaking, rinse the wheat again several times to remove any impurities.
4. In a cooking pot, combine the presoaked wheat with 3 cups of fresh water. Bring it to a gentle simmer and cook for 45 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Add a pinch of salt to taste.
5. While the wheat is cooking, prepare the other components. Soak the raisins in hot water for 30 minutes to hydrate and plump them up.
6. Dissolve the honey with 2 tablespoons of hot water in a small bowl to create a syrup.
7. Once the wheat is soft and cooked through, drain any excess water if necessary.
8. In a separate bowl, mix the cooked wheat with the honey syrup, chopped walnuts, drained raisins, and poppy seed filling.
9. Combine everything well. At this point, you may adjust the flavor with additional sugar if you desire a sweeter taste.
10. Serve your kutia in a festive dish as part of your Christmas Eve vegetarian meal lineup. Enjoy the warming, sweet flavors as you celebrate with your loved ones.
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Prep Time: 3 hours (includes soaking time)
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
Equipment: Bowl for soaking wheat, pot for cooking, mixing bowl, spoon for stirring.
Cooking Tips: You can enhance the flavors of kutia by adding other dried fruits such as apricots or figs. Make sure to wash the pearled wheat thoroughly before soaking.
Servings: 4-6
This recipe is attributed to the Kramarczuk Sausage Company and their dedication to traditional Ukrainian cuisine. For more recipes and information on Ukrainian culinary traditions, check out their YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@KramarczukSausageCompany
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