One of the main Christian holidays is Christmas. Traditionally in Russia, 12 dishes were prepared for the festive table in memory of the 12 apostles, companions of Jesus Christ. But among the pickles, the main dish of Christmas was juicy.
Wheat Sochi recipe
The main dish of the Christmas table - sochivo or kutyu - is made from whole grains of wheat, rice or barley, and seasoned with honey, poppy seeds or nuts. Sometimes dried fruits (apples, pears, raisins, dried apricots, prunes) are added to this Christmas porridge. This dish bears the symbolism of the holiday: grain means resurrection, honey - health, poppy - material well-being, nuts and raisins - longevity and prosperity.
To make Christmas kutya from wheat, you need to take the following products:
- 500 g of wheat;
- 3 tbsp. l. honey;
- 150 g of kernels of nuts;
- 150 g of raisins.
Rinse whole hulled wheat grains and cover with cold water overnight. The next day, put on a low heat and cook the millet for 3-4 hours in the same water in which it was soaked. Then discard the softened grains in a colander or sieve.
Dilute honey with cold or lukewarm boiled water in a 1: 2 ratio and pour the prepared solution over the wheat. Add the rinsed and presoaked pitted raisins and the nut kernels (walnuts or hazelnuts) crushed in a mortar.
Instead of nuts, poppy seeds can be added to kutya. To do this, wash 100 grams of ripe poppy seeds, rinse first with boiling water, and then with cold water and pound in a mortar until all the grains are rubbed and the poppy seeds turn white. Then add honey, granulated sugar and a little salt.
Put the porridge on low heat, bring to a boil, then refrigerate.
Recipe for Christmas rice kutia
To make rice kutia you will need:
- 400 g of rice;
- 200 g of raisins;
- ½ cup granulated sugar or 100 g of honey;
- cinnamon.
Sort the rice, rinse, cover with cold water and bring to a boil. Then fold in a sieve or colander and rinse with cold water. After that, pour the rice again with plenty of cold water and cook, without interfering, until tender. Then drain the water.
Dissolve granulated sugar with a little water and combine with chilled rice. If honey is used instead of sugar, then it is diluted in a 1: 2 ratio. Add raisins, washed and scalded with boiling water, and cinnamon to the rice and mix everything thoroughly.
Place the Christmas kutya on a large plate, flatten it with a spoon and sprinkle with powdered sugar on top to taste. Rice kutya can also be seasoned with jam. To do this, cook crumbly rice according to the previous recipe. Remove a glass of berries or fruits without syrup from the jam and combine with rice. Add a little sweetened boiled water and mix everything well.
