Kutia (traditional Christmas Eve dish)

Name: Kutia (traditional Christmas Eve dish)
Prep time: 600 min
Total time: 600 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 300 g Wheat (grains); 150 g Ground poppy seeds; 180 ml Honey; 150 g Chopped walnuts; 100 g Raisins; 100 g Dried apricots (chopped); 50 g Butter; 200 ml Milk; 1 szczypta Salt; 50 ml Orange juice; 10 łyżeczka Grated orange zest

Christmas Eve Dinner Desserts 600 min Medium 14 wyświetleń ~40.15 PLN - (0)

Description

Kutia is a traditional Christmas Eve dessert originating from Eastern Slavic cuisine, known and appreciated in Poland, Ukraine, and Lithuania. It is a sticky, aromatic mixture of cooked wheat (sometimes barley), ground poppy seeds, honey, nuts, and dried fruits. It has a sweet-nutty flavor with a delicate bitterness from the poppy seeds and the depth of honey; it looks impressive — shiny raisins and apricots contrast with the creamy texture. Serve it chilled as a dessert or a sweet addition to the holiday table; it pairs wonderfully with dried fruit compote. Kutia is filling and nutritious, providing energy from the carbohydrates in the grains and dried fruits, as well as healthy fats from the nuts.

Składniki (11)

Servings:

Wheat (grains) 300 g
Ground poppy seeds 150 g
Honey 180 ml
Chopped walnuts 150 g
Raisins 100 g
Dried apricots (chopped) 100 g
Butter 50 g
Milk 200 ml
🌿 Przyprawy
Salt 0.0 szczypt
✨ Opcjonalne
Orange juice 50 ml
Grated orange zest 2 łyżeczki

💰 Szacowany koszt dania: ~40.15 PLN (5.02 PLN/porcję)

💡 Kliknij na składnik aby oznaczyć jako użyty

Preparation steps

Preparing the wheat

Prepare the wheat: pour 300 g of dry grains into a large bowl and cover with cold water so that the water covers the grains by about 3-4 cm. Set aside to soak overnight (minimum 8 hours, maximum 12 hours). Soaking will shorten the cooking time and make the grains soft and sticky.

Ingredients: Wheat (grains)

Use a large, opaque bowl (at least 2 l), as the grains will swell. Changing the water after 4-6 hours will improve freshness. A common mistake is soaking for too short a time — then the wheat will be hard.

Drain the water from the soaked wheat and rinse the grains under running water in a sieve. Transfer to a large pot, cover with fresh cold water so that it is about 2 cm above the grains. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat to low, and cook with the lid slightly ajar for 45-60 minutes, until the grains are soft but not falling apart. During cooking, check every 15 minutes and add a little water if it evaporates too quickly.

Ingredients: Wheat (grains)

Use a wide pot with a capacity of at least 3 l. Cook on low heat — a vigorous boil will soften the grains unevenly. The wheat is ready when, when pressed, the grain is soft in the middle, slightly sticky, and some grains start to burst.

Preparing the poppy seeds

If you have whole poppy seeds, grind them finely in a coffee grinder or blender (in batches) — for a total of about 2-3 minutes of grinding, until they are very fine and oily. Transfer 150 g of poppy seeds to a small pot and pour in 200 ml of milk. Heat over low heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent the milk from boiling over and to allow the poppy seeds to release their oil. After 15 minutes, remove from heat and let cool. If you want a stronger aroma, blend the crushed poppy seeds briefly with the milk before cooking.

Ingredients: Ground poppy seeds, Milk

Use a coffee grinder or a small blender to grind the poppy seeds. Stir every minute — the poppy seeds tend to stick together. The desired result: the poppy seeds are moist, aromatic, and there are no grains that crunch between your teeth.

Preparation of dried fruits and nuts

Soak 100 g of raisins in 50 ml of warm water or (optionally) in orange juice for 10–15 minutes to plump them up. Chop 100 g of dried apricots into smaller pieces (about 5-10 mm). Lightly toast 150 g of walnuts in a dry pan for 3-4 minutes, shaking the pan continuously until they start to release their aroma and become slightly golden; cool and chop into coarse pieces.

Ingredients: Raisins, Dried apricots (chopped), Chopped walnuts, Orange juice

Use a flat pan without fat to toast the nuts and a wooden spoon for stirring. Be careful — the nuts can burn quickly. Soaking the raisins will ensure they are not hard in the finished dessert.

Preparation of the poppy seed filling

When the poppy seeds cool down (they should be warm, not hot), strain them through a fine sieve or blend them again briefly to achieve a smooth, creamy consistency. Add 180 g of honey and a pinch of salt to the poppy seeds, and mix with a wooden spoon until you have a uniform mass. Taste — the mixture should be sweet, but with a delicate hint of poppy; adjust with additional honey if needed, to taste.

Ingredients: Ground poppy seeds, Honey, Salt, Milk

Use a large bowl and a wooden spoon. If the mixture is too thick, add a tablespoon or two of warm milk or orange juice. The desired effect: the poppy seed mixture is moist, creamy, and easy to combine with other ingredients.

Mixing and seasoning

In a large bowl, transfer the cooked and drained wheat (you can let it cool slightly to a warm temperature). Add the prepared poppy seed mixture with honey, chopped nuts, drained raisins, and chopped apricots. Add 50 g of soft butter cut into pieces. If using, add 50 ml of orange juice and 10 g of grated orange zest. Gently mix with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula for 2–3 minutes until the ingredients are well combined. The mixture should be sticky but not flooded with liquid — if it is too dry, add 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 ml) of milk or juice.

Ingredients: Wheat (grains), Ground poppy seeds, Chopped walnuts, Raisins, Dried apricots (chopped), Butter, Orange juice, Grated orange zest

Use a large bowl (at least 3 l) and mix gently to avoid crushing the grains. A common mistake: adding too much liquid — kutia should be moist, but not runny.

Cooling and Storage

Transfer the kutia to a glass bowl or several smaller dishes. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight — the flavors will meld and the mixture will thicken. Serve chilled. Before serving, you can garnish with a few nuts and a bit of fresh orange zest.

Ingredients: Wheat (grains), Ground poppy seeds, Honey, Chopped walnuts

Use an airtight container or a bowl covered with plastic wrap. Kutia tastes better the next day. Avoid storing it in an open bowl — it easily absorbs odors from the fridge.

Serving

Remove the kutia from the refrigerator about 10-15 minutes before serving to allow it to reach a slightly room temperature — this is when the flavors are at their fullest. Serve portions of 120–150 g on dessert plates. Optionally, add a few toasted nuts on top and a strip of fresh orange zest as a garnish.

Ingredients: Wheat (grains), Chopped walnuts

Use an ice cream scoop or a large serving spoon. A dessert portion is about 120–150 g per person. Try not to serve it directly from a very cold refrigerator — the flavors are then sharp.

Fun Fact

💡

Kutia was traditionally served as the first dish on Christmas Eve among Eastern Slavs — it symbolized abundance and family unity. In many regions, its consistency and ingredients vary locally, but poppy seeds and grains always hold symbolic significance.

Best for

Wigilia Świąteczne spotkania rodzinne Boże Narodzenie

Tips

🍽️ Serving

Serve chilled as a dessert or a sweet first course for Christmas Eve. You can serve it alongside dried fruit compote or herbal tea. For an elegant presentation, place the kutia in small glass bowls and decorate each serving with a piece of nut and a strip of orange peel.

🥡 Storage

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Do not freeze — the texture of the grains and poppy seeds will change. If the mixture hardens in the refrigerator, add 1–2 tablespoons of milk or juice and gently mix before serving.

📸 Ugotowane przez społeczność

Zaloguj się, aby dodać zdjęcie

Dodaj zdjęcie gotowej potrawy

Po zatwierdzeniu przez moderatora otrzymasz 10 punktów doświadczenia.

🍲

Nikt jeszcze nie dodał zdjęcia. Bądź pierwszy!

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment on this recipe!

Add a comment

Ingredients (11)

Servings:

Wheat (grains) 300 g ~0.75 zł
Ground poppy seeds 150 g ~1.80 zł
Honey 180 ml ~18.00 zł
Chopped walnuts 150 g ~7.50 zł
Raisins 100 g ~6.00 zł
Dried apricots (chopped) 100 g ~2.50 zł
Butter 50 g ~2.00 zł
Milk 200 ml ~1.00 zł
🌿 Przyprawy
Salt 0.0 szczypt ~0.01 zł
✨ Opcjonalne
Orange juice 50 ml ~0.30 zł
Grated orange zest 2 łyżeczki ~0.30 zł

💰 Szacowany koszt dania: ~40.15 PLN (5.02 PLN/porcję)

💡 Kliknij na składnik aby oznaczyć jako użyty

Wartości odżywcze

🔥

4311 kcal

Kalorie

Białko 102.4g

Węglowodany 583.5g

Tłuszcze 211.9g

🔥

334 kcal

Kalorie

Białko 7.9g

Węglowodany 45.2g

Tłuszcze 16.4g

Wartości przybliżone, obliczone na podstawie składników

Autor przepisu Pichcik

90 min

Recipe Categories

Christmas Eve Dinner

Christmas Eve is the most important evening of the year - a time for tradition, family, and special dishes. Our collection of Christmas Eve recipes includes all 12 traditional dishes: from red borscht with dumplings to poppy seed cake and kutia. Recipes for carp in various versions: fried, baked,...

See all recipes in this category

Desserts in: Christmas Eve Dinner

Desserts are a sweet ending to a meal that brings joy to both children and adults. In this category, we present recipes for a variety of sweets - from simple creams and mousses, to elegant panna cottas, and exquisite fruit tarts. Our desserts include both classics of Polish cuisine - fruit jelly,...