By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026
Serves 6
310 cal · 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.
Comments
Koliva is a beautiful Eastern Orthodox memorial dish that works as an occasional dessert, but the 52-minute estimate ignores the overnight soak and 90-minute simmer for wheat berries—plan closer to three hours total. All ingredients are available at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Kroger, or Walmart, though whole wheat berries may require a stop at ALDI or the bulk section at Kroger if your usual store doesn't stock them. The real cost driver is the pomegranate—typically $3–5 per fruit in North Carolina, making this easily $8–12 per serving—and it's a single-occasion dish that won't reheat well or inspire weeknight repeats, though the symbolism and homemade nature justify it for a meaningful meal.
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