Kutya is a rather polarizing appetizer and most traditional Ukrainian food. The flavors and textures are quite perplexing. The poppy seeds are sweet yet gritty, while the wheat (barley) is chewy and fibrous, the walnuts provide a crunch, and the raisins provide a subtle tartness to offset the sweet poppyseeds. Each of the four ingredient has an opposite and balancing quality to them.
This traditional Ukrainian dish starts off the Christmas Eve meal. Each person must eat 3 spoonfulls of Kutya before they move onto the other courses. Its a tribute to the ancestors and a symbol of thanks for the meal that is about to be eaten.
Kutya (Sweet Wheat Raisin Pudding)
Ingredients
- 8 oz Puffed or pearled Barley (or peeled wheat)
- 1 can of poppy seed cake pastry filling - in a can in the baking aisle
- Handful of golden raisins
- 1 cup walnuts
Instructions
- Cook Barley until it puffs then let it cool.
- Meanwhile, soak the raisins in warm water for about 20 mins to make them soft. Set Aside.
- Crush walnuts, Set Aside.
- Combine poppy filling, walnuts, raisins, barley in a large mixing bowl.
- Top with whole walnuts in a cross pattern.
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