Homemade Greek wheat berries memorial food
Homemade Greek Koliva
The koliva, also spelled kollyva are a dessert offered in memory of the dead.
The word comes from the ancient Greek word kolyvos (κόλλυβος), which was a grain of cereal (and in this sense passed into kolyvas). Kolyvos was also the very small coin.
The koliva are offered to those attending memorial services in the church, and the rest (if there is any) distributed to relatives or friends. The custom dates back to the earliest Christian years and is related to the dinners of Greeks and other peoples.
Kolyva are also made the Psychosabbaths (Ψυχοσάββατα) which are usually 2 times a year and are dedicated to the memory of the souls of the dead. The first Psychosabbath is the Saturday of the first week of Lent (Sarakosti – Σαρακοστή) and the second is the Saturday before the Sunday of Pentecost.
Ingredients
- 500 g wheat berries
- a pinch of salt
- 300 gr icing sugar
- 100 gr sesame seeds
- 200 gr almonds, blanched (cut in the middle)
- 2 tbsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp cloves (powder)
- 80 gr breadcrumbs
- 250 g raisins, blonde
- 1/4 bunch parsley, finely chopped
- 1 pomegranate (seeds)
Method
- Boil wheat berries in a pot with water, for 30-40 minutes (add a pinch of salt).
- Leave the wheat in the colander, for 1 hour, to remove the excess moisture and cool well.
- Spread kitchen towels into kitchen counter, place the wheat and leave overnight to dry very well.
- The next morning saute in a non sticking pan the sesame seeds (until they get a gold color), and the almonds (separately because the need different time) and let them cool very well.
- Transfer the wheat to a large bowl, add sesame seeds, almonds, the cinnamon, the cloves, some breadcrumbs, the raisins, the parsley, the pomegranate, and mix well.
- Use a nice glass bowl and pure the mixture.
- Cover it with a layer of breadcrumbs and then cover very well with icing sugar.
- Decorate with some almonds and pomegranate seeds.
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