Kutia (Ukrainian Christmas Wheat Berry Pudding)

Ingredients

• Wheat berries 250 g
• Poppy seeds 150 g
• Walnuts, chopped 100 g
• Raisins 100 g
• Honey 100 g (5 tbsp)
• Uzvar (dried fruit compote) or boiled water, warm 150 ml
• Salt 1 pinch (1 g)
• Water, for soaking and boiling about 2 l

Instructions

1. 1

   Rinse the wheat berries, cover with cold water and soak for 8 hours or overnight, then drain.

2. 2

   Cover the wheat with 1.5 l of fresh water, add the salt and simmer, covered, for 1.5 hours until the grains are tender and start to burst; drain and cool.

3. 3

   Pour boiling water over the poppy seeds, leave for 30 minutes, drain well and grind them in a blender or mortar until they turn pale and milky.

4. 4

   Soak the raisins in hot water for 10 minutes and drain; toast the walnuts in a dry pan for 3-4 minutes and chop them.

5. 5

   Dissolve the honey in the warm uzvar or boiled water.

6. 6

   Mix the wheat with the ground poppy seeds, walnuts and raisins, then pour over the honey syrup and stir.

7. 7

   Leave for 1 hour so the wheat absorbs the syrup, and serve at room temperature.