Christmas table 2024: top-4 traditional dishes

The Christmas table is an important part of celebrating Christmas in Ukraine. The dishes of the traditional Christmas dinner preserve traditions that are passed down from generation to generation.

The symbolism of the Christmas table is revealed in the number of dishes, which should be exactly 12. This number is not accidental: it symbolizes the 12 apostles, and each dish has its own meaning.

UNN made a selection of recipes for your Christmas table-2024 by Yevhen Klopotenko.

One of the main dishes that must be on the Christmas table is kutya. Kutya is a traditional Ukrainian ceremonial dish that symbolizes wealth, family unity and honoring ancestors. It is prepared mainly on Christmas Eve.

TRADITIONAL WHEAT KUTYA. RECIPE OF KUTI WITH RAISINS AND POPPY

INGREDIENTS

350 g of wheat

50 g of walnuts

50 g of raisins

50 g of lit poppy

1 hour l. lemon zest

2 Art. l. lemon juice

honey to taste

Step 1

Wash 350 g of wheat to get rid of the crumbs and excess husk. Currently, ready-made wheat is sold in stores specifically for preparing kuti, but we use ordinary wheat.

Step 2

Pour water over washed wheat and cook for 30 minutes after boiling. For 350 g of wheat, you will need 1.4 liters of water, that is, the ratio should be 1:4. If you like more boiled kutya, cook a little longer.

Step 3

Put 50 g of poppy seeds in a bowl and pour boiling water over them for 15 minutes, then drain the water. Grind the steamed poppy seeds in a mortar or pestle. An electric coffee grinder or a blender with a special attachment is perfect for grinding poppy seeds. In this case, you can not even soak the poppy, but grind it until poppy milk begins to form.

Step 4

Grind 50 g of walnuts. I recommend doing this with a heavy plastic bag and a rolling pin. You just need to put the nuts in a bag and hit them with a rolling pin. This way it is easier to control the degree of grinding, because in the blender you can quickly beat the nuts to the state of flour, and we do not need this.

Step 5

Place cooked wheat in a large bowl and add chopped nuts and poppy seeds, pour in 50 g of raisins and add honey to taste.

Step 6

Grate lemon zest into a bowl and squeeze lemon juice to taste. This will add a bit of acidity and an incredible citrus flavor to the kuta.

Step 7

Mix everything well and add warm water to the desired consistency of the finished dish.

Another equally important component of the traditional Christmas table are dumplings with various fillings. They are usually stuffed with cabbage, potatoes, mushrooms, and beans. They also make sweet versions, for example, with cherries, cheese or poppy seeds.

DUMPLINGS WITH POTATOES AND MUSHROOMS FROM YEVHEN KLOPOTENKA

INGREDIENTS

For the dough:

360 g of flour

180 ml of water

½ tsp. salt

2 tbsp. oil

For the filling:

130 g of potatoes

200 g of mushrooms

1 bulb

2 tbsp. oil

¼ tsp. ground black pepper

⅓ tsp. salt

2 tbsp. oil

sour cream or toast for serving

Step 1

In 360 g of flour, add 180 ml of water, ½ tsp. salt and 2 tbsp. oil Knead a homogeneous dough and leave to rest.

Step 2

Peel 130 g of potatoes, put them in a saucepan and cover with water. Cook for 25 minutes, checking readiness with a knife: it should easily go into the potatoes. Drain the water from the potatoes and mash them.

Step 3

Cut 200 g of mushrooms into slices, onions into slightly smaller slices. Heat 2 tbsp. oil, fry the mushrooms for 5 minutes. Add onions to the pan and fry for another 3-4 minutes. Mix the mushroom roast with potatoes, add 1/3 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper

Step 4

Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 0.5 cm, cut circles with a glass and form dumplings. Gather the remaining dough into a ball, roll out again and finish the dumplings.

Step 5

Boil water in a saucepan, throw in the dumplings and cook for 5 minutes from the moment of boiling. Put the dumplings on a plate, grease with 2 tbsp. oil and serve with sour cream or fried mushrooms.

Among the drinks on the Christmas table, there must be a traditional brew. It is a drink that is usually made from dried fruits and honey.

UZVAR FROM DRIED FRUITS: A RECIPE FOR A TRADITIONAL UKRAINIAN DRINK

INGREDIENTS

350 g of dried fruit

3 liters of water

7-8 centuries l. honey

3 buds of cloves

1 tbsp. the poppy

Step 1

Put dried fruits and berries or a ready-made set of them in a colander and rinse thoroughly under running water.

Step 2

After that, put it in a large saucepan and pour 3 liters of water. Cook on low heat for 30 minutes under the lid, so that the taste is more saturated.

Step 3

Turn off the heat and add 3 clove buds and 1 tbsp. l. poppy seeds, mix well and leave the concoction to cool.

Step 4

When the concoction cools a little and becomes warm, add honey. Stir until it dissolves. We add 7-8 tbsp. l. honey, but you can give a little less or more, taste.

Step 5

Cool the drink well and serve.

Usually on Christmas Eve, light dishes are served. However, the table can be filled with something meaty for the Christmas dinner. So we suggest preparing an unusual “Christmas Wreath” salad.

HOLIDAY SALAD “CHRISTMAS WREATH” BY Yevhen Klopotenko

INGREDIENTS

For salad

1 package of arugula (75 g)

2 large tangerines

100 g of gorgonzola cheese

50 g of nuts

100 g of prosciutto or ham

For refueling

juice of 1 tangerine

50 ml of soy sauce

2 Art. l of olive oil

Step 1

Squeeze the juice of 1 tangerine, 50 ml of soy sauce, 2 tbsp. l. olive oil and mix. Place the sauce pan in the center of a wide plate.

Step 2

Peel 2 tangerines and cut them into circles. Break 100 g of gorgonzola cheese into pieces. Chop 50 g of nuts with a knife.

Step 3

Arrange arugula, tangerine wedges, pieces of cheese, jamon and nuts around the sauce pan and serve.