2 c Wheat 3 qt Water 1 c Poppy seeds 2/3 c Sugar 1/3 c Honey (dissolved in 3/4 cup -hot water) 1/2 c Chopped walnuts 1 Apple cut into 1/4 inch -squares This is the ritual first dish of the 12 course Christmas Eve Supper. The wheat represents the staff of life, the honey represents the Spirit of Christ Dry wheat in 250 degree oven for one hour, stir occasionaly. Wash, soak in cold water overnight. Next morning, bring wheat to boiling point, simmer for 3 - 4 hours, until kernels burst open. Scald poppy seed, simmer for 3 - 5 minutes. Drain, grind twice using the finest blade of food chopper. Set aside. Combine honey and sugar in hot water. Set aside. After all ingredients have cooled, combine in one bowl and add the chopped apples (if desired). This dish is to be served cold and will not keep well at room temperature. Store in fridge until ready to serve. If anyone found this to be interesting, leave me a message and I can post more of the traditional Ukrainian dishes.
How To make Kutia (Ukrainian Traditional)'s Videos
Ukrainian Christmas Eve dishes
Christmas in Ukraine is celebrated on the 7th January is because, like many countries where the main Church is the Orthodox Church, they use the old 'Julian' calendar for their church festivals.
The main Christmas meal, called 'Sviata Vecheria' (or Holy Supper) is eaten on Christmas Eve (6th January). Traditionally people fast (don't eat anything) all day but you might start the day drinking some holy water that has been blessed at church.
You can't start eating the meal until the first star is seen in the sky. So people (especially the hungry ones!) go outside as soon as it start getting dark in the afternoon to try and spot the first star. The star represents the journey of the Wise Men to find Jesus and that Jesus has been born, so Christmas can start!
The meal normally has 12 dishes which represent Jesus's 12 disciples. Traditionally the dishes don't have any meat, eggs or milk in them. The main dish is often 'kutia' a type of a kind of sweet porridge made of wheat.