Kutia

Name: Kutia
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Ukrainian
Ingredients: 1 cup whole wheat berries, rinsed; 4 cups water; 1/8 tsp salt; 1/2 cup poppy seeds, ground; 1/2 cup honey; 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped; 1/2 cup raisins

Kutia is a sweet Ukrainian wheat berry porridge mixed with ground poppy seeds, honey, walnuts, and raisins. It is the traditional first dish of the Christmas Eve supper. Plan ahead: soak the wheat overnight.

80 minMediumServes 4600 cal/serving

UkrainianDessertStovetopVegetarianDairy-FreeEgg-Free

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Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat berries, rinsed
4 cups water
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup poppy seeds, ground
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped
1/2 cup raisins

Instructions

1

Soak 1 cup rinsed whole wheat berries overnight in plenty of cold water. Drain and rinse well.
2

Place the wheat in a pot with 4 cups water and 1/8 tsp salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer covered 1 hour, until the wheat is tender and most of the water is absorbed. Drain any extra liquid and cool.
3

Warm 1/2 cup ground poppy seeds with 1/2 cup honey in a small pan over low heat for 3 minutes, stirring, until fragrant and thick.
4

Toast 1/2 cup walnuts in a dry pan 3 to 4 minutes, then chop.
5

Stir the poppy seed honey into the cooled wheat with 1/2 cup toasted, chopped walnuts and 1/2 cup raisins.
6

Serve at room temperature or chilled. Kutia keeps 3 days refrigerated.

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Questions

How much time should I plan for Kutia?

As written, 80 minutes: 20 of prep and 60 of cooking. The longest single stretch is the hands-off wait in step 1, overnight, or about 8 hours. That wait sits outside the stated prep and cook times, so plan around it.

How do I know when Kutia is done?

Go by the cues in the method rather than the clock. Step 3: cook until fragrant and thick.

Is toasting the nuts or seeds for Kutia necessary?

Step 4 reads: "Toast 1/2 cup walnuts in a dry pan 3 to 4 minutes, then chop." It is quick and it shows. Step 4 browns the natural oils, which deepens the flavor; raw, they taste flat by comparison. Watch the pan, because they go from toasted to burnt in under a minute.

Is Kutia vegan?

No, though it is vegetarian. What keeps it from vegan is 1/2 cup honey. For fully plant-based entries, see the vegan dessert collection.

Does Kutia contain tree nuts?

Yes: 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped. The full allergen list for this entry is gluten and tree nuts. Where the nuts are a garnish or a texture, toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds stand in. Packaged ingredients vary by brand, so check labels if the allergy is serious.

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