
Serves 6
52 min
Koliva – Whole Grain Commemorative Dessert
Recipe GLPRd54463e5507db2
A traditional Eastern European whole grain dessert combining chewy wheat berries with pomegranate seeds, cranberries, raisins, and toasted nuts, seasoned with warm spices like cinnamon and anise. This nutritious, plant-based dessert is finished with a dusting of powdered sugar and decorative chocolate or candy, making it both wholesome and festive.
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Ingredients
1 cup wheat berries
½ cup pomegranate seeds
2 tablespoons dried cranberries
2 tablespoons raisins
¼ cup toasted slivered almonds
¼ teaspoon anise seeds
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
pinch salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ cup sugar
powdered sugar
chocolate or candy
Directions
Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add the wheat berries and boil gently for about 30–35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the kernels are tender and split slightly when bitten. Drain well in a fine-mesh sieve and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
While the wheat berries are still warm, stir in the pomegranate seeds, dried cranberries, raisins, toasted slivered almonds, anise seeds, sesame seeds, salt, ground cinnamon, and sugar. Mix thoroughly until all components are evenly distributed.
Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. Transfer to a serving dish or individual bowls, then garnish generously with powdered sugar and decorate with chocolate pieces or candy as desired before serving.