Kutia
Kutia is a traditional Ukrainian Christmas Eve dish, made with wheat berries, honey, and poppy seeds. It is often served with uzvar, a compote made of dried fruits.
Ingredients
1 cup wheat berries
1 cup water
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup poppy seeds
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Method
1. In a medium saucepan, bring the wheat berries and water to a boil.
2. Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour, or until the wheat berries are tender.
3. Drain the wheat berries and transfer to a large bowl.
4. Add the honey, poppy seeds, raisins, walnuts, and vanilla extract, and stir to combine.
5. Serve at room temperature or chilled.
Potential changes & improvements
-You could add other dried fruits to the kutia, such as apricots or figs.
-For a more festive dish, try adding a few drops of red food coloring to the honey before adding it to the wheat berries.
What other food it works well with
-Kutia is traditionally served with uzvar, a compote made of dried fruits.
-It can also be served with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt.
Common Mistakes
-Be sure to simmer the wheat berries until they are tender before adding the honey and other ingredients, otherwise the kutia will be too chewy.
-Do not overcook the wheat berries, or they will fall apart and become mushy.
Nutritional Information
-Kutia is a good source of fiber and protein.
-It is also a good source of vitamins and minerals, such as iron and magnesium.
Allergens
-Wheat
-Nuts
-Poppy seeds