Kutia

Kutia is a sweet grain pudding, traditionally served in Ukrainian [ [http://www.recipezaar.com/77525 Ukrainian CHRISTMAS KUTYA recipe] ] , Lithuanian and Polish cultures. "Kutia" is often the first dish in the traditional twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper (also known as "Svyateh Vetchnyat"). It is rarely served at other times of the year.

It resembles "koliva" from Serbia or Romania (used usually for funerals), but the latter is mixed only with walnuts, sugar and raisins.

"Kutia" was also part of a common Eastern Orthodox tradition in the Russian Empire, which has become virtually extinct in Russia as a result of the official atheism of the former Soviet Union. "Radonitsa" is one such holiday on which it may be served. To this day "kutia" is served at funerals across Russia as a dish of remembrance.

Traditionally it was made of wheatberries, poppy seeds, honey (or sugar), various nuts and sometimes raisins. In many recipes milk or cream is also used. In some Slavic countriesspeciy, rice is the main ingredient.

Nowadays other ingredients (which were unavailable or just too expensive in earlier centuries) like almonds and pieces of oranges are added. In some places (like Poland and western Canada), unprocessed wheat grain for "kutia" is easily available in stores. In others, where it is harder to find, it can be replaced by other similar grains like barley.

References

ee also

*Frumenty, Western European dish of similar recipe