Greek Kolyva (Koliva) (Wheat Berry Memorial Food) Recipe

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Greek  Kolyva (Koliva) (Wheat Berry Memorial Food)
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Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Rinse the wheat berries and place them in a large saucepan. Add enough water to cover by 2 inches, along with a few pinches of salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until the berries are tender and beginning to split but not mushy, about 1 3/4 hours. (Add more water to the pot when the liquid reduces to the level that the wheat no longer floats, and stir from time to time so the berries don’t stick to the bottom.) Drain and set aside in the strainer to cool and dry for at least 1 hour or up to several hours.
  2. Place the cooled wheat berries in a large mixing bowl. Add the sesame and anise seeds, walnuts, slivered almonds, raisins, cinnamon, and the pomegranate seeds. Sift in 1 cup of the confectioners’ sugar and toss it all together.
  3. Transfer the mixture to a large platter or tray. Sift the remaining confectioners’ sugar over the top to coat it thickly, almost like a frosting. Decorate the top with the whole almonds and the dragees.
  4. To serve, present the platter of decorated kolyva. Then, just before eating, mix it all together. Serves 40.
  5. NOTES: Pomegranate is not always in season, but there really is no substitute for the seed in taste, texture, or symbolism. If it is not available, simply omit it.
  6. Dragees are available in any well stocked large supermarket, usually in the baking aisle.
  7. Kolyva is traditionally prepared the day before the memorial serve, but the wheat berries can ferment if left at room temperature overnight and the sugar can crystallize in a refrigerator’s moist environment. The best pre-preparation method is to boil and refrigerate the wheat berries ahead of time, then add the other ingredients and decorate the kolyva just before it’s needed.
  8. Adventures In Greek Cooking : The Caper and The Olive by Susanna Hoffman.
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Nutrition Facts

Per ServingPer 100 g
Amount Per 1 Serving
Calories 206.91 Kcal (866 kJ)
Calories from fat 86.65 Kcal
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9.63g 15%
Sodium 3.74mg 0%
Potassium 154.02mg 3%
Total Carbs 28.18g 9%
Sugars 21.66g 87%
Dietary Fiber 2.29g 9%
Protein 4.3g 9%
Vitamin C 0.3mg 0%
Iron 16.3mg 91%
Calcium 53.5mg 5%
Amount Per 100 g
Calories 390.82 Kcal (1636 kJ)
Calories from fat 163.67 Kcal
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18.19g 15%
Sodium 7.07mg 0%
Potassium 290.91mg 3%
Total Carbs 53.23g 9%
Sugars 40.91g 87%
Dietary Fiber 4.33g 9%
Protein 8.12g 9%
Vitamin C 0.5mg 0%
Iron 30.8mg 91%
Calcium 101mg 5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Find out how many calories should you eat.

Tastes

  • salty
  • savory
  • bitter
  • sweet
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Recipe Tags

Weightwatchers Points

  • 4.5
    Points
  • 6
    PointsPlus

Good Points

  • saturated fat free,
  • very low sodium,
  • cholesterol free,
  • good source of fiber

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