Kutia is a very ancient dish. Despite the fact that it became part of Christian traditions, it was still used by pagans. In translation, the word meant boiled wheat. It was prepared as a symbol of the good and well-being of the clan, overseen by the deceased ancestors. That is, this is a memorial dish. He is being prepared for the memorial table. Also - as a festive treat.
At Christmas, kutia is considered a must-have dish. She is present on the table during a festive feast, which opens with a spoon of this treat. After the meal, all the guests once again attach themselves to the kutye, pronouncing the words of wishes for each other.
That is, this dish can be considered the most important on Christmas carols and a feast. Therefore, it must be prepared very carefully so as not to blush for quality, taste and appearance.
How to cook kutya for Christmas?
I must say that there are many recipes for this dish. Not every housewife now uses whole wheat. It used to be stored in barns apparently-invisibly. Now go look for the real grain. More and more cereals are on the shelves. But it doesn't matter. The recipe is so democratic that it allows you to replace one ingredient with another without much impact on the quality and taste of the dish.
Ingredients:
- Wheat - 500 gr.
- Poppy - 200 gr.
- Walnuts (or others) - glass.
- Honey - from a couple of spoons to half a glass.
- Sugar, candied fruits, raisins - optional.
Previously, wheat was not just cooked for several hours, but also pre-pounded. It is recommended that you do so. To begin with, wash the grains, heat them in a deep bowl with a pestle until the husk (chaff) leaves. Now you can cook. The process is not fast.
- Wheat is kept on fire for at least an hour. It is recommended to put the pot of grain in the oven. Let it languish for several hours until the wheat turns white. This will make the taste more intense and traditional.
- Poppy - grind. A coffee grinder was perfectly adapted for this process. Then pour boiling water over the formed poppy seed flour. Let stand for a few minutes. Strain through cheesecloth and add to the grain. Cut all other ingredients into small pieces (nuts, candied fruits) and there.
- The honey needs to be warmed up. Mix everything. When the mass has cooled, place it in the refrigerator. Christmas kutia is ready.
What can be changed in Kutia's recipe?
To understand what kutia is, and to compose a recipe yourself, you need to learn that this is a dish consisting of grains (cereals) and sweets. The rest is the fruit of your imagination and taste. So, nowadays, wheat is often changed to rice. This is not traditional, but it is allowed.
To get tasty kutya, rice should also be cooked in the oven, rinsing it well in running water. Pour the groats in a ratio of one to two (water) and bring to readiness. Real kutia for Christmas is prepared from a mixture of grains: wheat, barley, pearl barley. In principle, you can leave only the last cereal. It turns out delicious too.
Now about the additives. In addition to traditional poppy seeds and nuts, the dish is traditionally added:
- boiled dried fruits,
- raisins,
- candied fruit,
- berries from jam,
- even candy balls.
There is a huge scope for culinary specialists. Imagine based on your own preferences and taste. It is recommended to always leave poppy and honey in the recipe. Without them, it will no longer be a Christmas kutia, but a completely different food.
