Kutia (Ukrainian Wheat, Poppy Seed and Honey Pudding)
Chewy wheat berries with ground poppy seeds, honey and raisins. The traditional first dish of a Ukrainian Christmas Eve supper.
- Time2 hr plus soaking overnight
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.55 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Drain the soaked wheat berries and put them in a large pan with plenty of fresh water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes until tender but still chewy. Drain well.
70 min - 2
Put the poppy seeds in a bowl, cover with boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. Drain through a fine sieve.
20 min - 3
Grind the soaked poppy seeds in a mortar or spice grinder to a dark, damp, fragrant paste. This takes a few minutes.
- 4
Soak the raisins in hot water for 10 minutes and drain. Warm the honey gently in a small pan until runny.
- 5
Stir the warm wheat berries with the poppy seed paste, raisins, apricots, honey and orange zest. Taste and add more honey if you like.
- 6
Serve warm or at room temperature. It keeps for 3 days in the fridge and tastes better the next day.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
