Buckwheat kutya
Description
The recipe won't take much time. Kutya is an essential part of the Christmas feast. It is usually made from wheat or grains such as buckwheat, rice, or bulgur, with the addition of dried fruits, poppy seeds, honey, and nuts. The dish turns out filling and sweet, and is loved by both children and adults. People believe that sweet kutya will ensure a "sweet," kind, and prosperous coming year. That's why kutya is usually given the central place on the table, and the festive meal begins with a prayer and this dish. Let's proceed with preparing buckwheat-based kutya. 1. First, cook a fluffy buckwheat porridge. It's better to soak the buckwheat in water for several hours beforehand—this will make the porridge cook faster and turn out softer and tastier. Wrap the pot with the porridge in a warm towel to let it steam. 2. Rinse the prunes thoroughly, dry them, and cut into pieces with a knife. 3. Lightly toast the almonds (or any other nuts) in a dry skillet. 4. Dissolve honey in half a liter of water, bring to a boil, let it simmer for a minute, skim off the foam, and set aside. Add cloves and cardamom, then let the mixture steep until cooled. 5. Mix the buckwheat porridge with nuts and prunes. Serve chilled, drizzled with the honey sauce.