Kutia (Ukrainian Sweet Wheat Pudding)
A festive, honey‑sweet wheat grain pudding studded with poppy seeds, nuts and dried fruit, traditionally served at Christmas and weddings in Ukraine.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 1 hr 30 min
- Total
- 1 hr 50 min
- Serves
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
Method
-
Step 1 of 5
Soak the wheat berries in cold water for at least 4 hours, then drain.
-
Step 2 of 5
Combine the soaked wheat and 1 l water in a large pot; bring to a boil, reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for 45‑50 minutes until the grains are tender but retain some bite.
-
Step 3 of 5
Add the milk, honey, salt and cinnamon; stir and continue to simmer for another 20‑25 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
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Step 4 of 5
Stir in the toasted poppy seeds, chopped nuts and dried fruit; remove from heat and let the kutia rest for 10 minutes to allow flavours to meld.
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Step 5 of 5
Transfer to a serving bowl, smooth the surface and garnish with a few extra poppy seeds and nut pieces before serving warm or at room temperature.
Notes from the kitchen
If whole wheat berries are unavailable, use short‑grain rice as a substitute, though the texture will be softer. Kutia keeps refrigerated for up to 3 days; re‑warm gently before serving.
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