Kutia is is one of the ancient dishes that goes back thousands of years in Eastern European history of Ukraine and Poland. A dish that combines two oldest foods known to man: wheat and honey. A dish of whole or cracked wheat softened in water, cooked, and sweetened with honey and dried fruits. This is a healthy grain dish that plays an essential role in both cultures of Poland and Ukraine at Christmas Eve meal as a part of 12 traditional dishes served on that day.

The religious nature of the dish is emphasized by an ancient custom, when the head of the family approached the window or went out into the yard with a spoonful of kutia and, addressing the frost, invited him three times to take part in dinner with the family. When the frost does not appear, he is advised not to appear, not to do harm to crops, etc.: "Frost, frost, come to us to eat kutia, and if you don't come, don't come for the rye, wheat and other crops." reference source Wikipedia

“The meal began with chocolate soup, eaten only once a year on this day, followed by four types of fish and then kutia” quoted by Maria Estreicherówna book” Zycie Towarzyskie i Obyczjowe Krakowa w latach 1848-1863”

Yield: 12 portions

Ingredients:

• 2 cups wheat berries

• 1 cup poppy seeds

• 1 cup raisins

• 1/2 cup honey

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

• 2 tsp pure vanilla essence

Instructions:

1. Pre-soak wheat berries in warm water for 24 hours, then drain well.

2. The next day, place wheat berries in the heavy saucepan in 6 cups of cold water bath. Cover the pot.Bring it to boil.

3. Reduce heat to low, and simmer until wheat berries are tender and cooked. This takes at least 2-3 hours. Add more water if needed, keeping the wheat berries covered with water at all times

4. Rinse poppy seeds with cold water. In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to boil and add the poppy seeds. Reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan and simmer until poppy seeds start to diintegrate when rubbed between fingers. Drain the poppy seeds and grind them very finely in food processor.

5. Pre-soak the raisins in 1 cup of warm water for 30 minutes. Drain the raisins and then chop them.

6. Drain off the water from wheat berries reserving 1/2 cup of liquid. Pour liquid into the bowl and add honey, along with poppy seeds, raisins and nuts.

7. Place the mixture into a casserole dish and bake at in the oven for 15 minutes at 350°F or 178°C.

8. Serve hot or cold.

   Enjoy it!