In short
- Koljivo, or kollyva, is boiled wheat with ground walnuts and sugar, blessed at Orthodox memorials.
- For about thirty people you need about 2 1/2 cups of wheat berries, 3 cups of ground walnuts and 1 cup of sugar.
- Dry the cooked wheat well before mixing, or it turns sticky.
In this article
What koljivo means
A grain of wheat is buried in the ground and new life grows from it. That is why koljivo stands for resurrection and the hope that death is not the end. The priest blesses it at the memorial, and each person takes a spoonful and says Bog da prosti, may God forgive.
Ingredients, for about 30 people
- 2 1/2 cups (500 g) wheat berries, from health food stores or Greek and Eastern European grocers
- 3 cups (300 g) ground walnuts
- 1 to 1 1/4 cups (200 to 250 g) sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, or a packet of vanilla sugar
- grated zest of one lemon, optional
- powdered sugar for the top
- walnut halves or almonds to decorate
Method
- Two days before, rinse the wheat in several changes of water and soak it overnight.
- The next day, drain, cover with fresh water and simmer until the grains are soft and start to split, usually between thirty minutes and an hour.
- Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Dry it well. Spread the wheat on a clean cotton tablecloth for several hours, ideally overnight. This is the most important step: damp wheat turns sticky and sour.
- Grind the wheat in a meat grinder or crush it lightly. Some families leave it whole.
- Mix in the walnuts, sugar, vanilla sugar and lemon zest.
- Shape it in a bowl or on a plate as a smooth mound.
- Dust with powdered sugar and decorate with a cross of walnut halves or almonds. For a memorial the decoration is simple.
Tips
- Do not mix in the walnuts while the wheat is warm or damp.
- Bring small cups or disposable spoons and napkins so people can take some.
- For a small memorial, half the amount is enough.
- In many Orthodox parishes someone makes koljivo or kollyva to order. Ask the priest.
- Greek kollyva often adds sesame seeds, almonds, raisins, pomegranate seeds, parsley and cinnamon, and is covered with a smooth layer of powdered sugar decorated with a cross.
Koljivo is brought to the 40 day memorial, the half year and yearly memorials, and on the Saturdays of Souls. Many families keep a grandmother’s recipe with her own measures. It is worth writing down, together with the other family recipes, before it is lost. On a page of memories, recipes sit next to photos and stories, where the whole family can find them.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you cook wheat for koljivo?
After soaking overnight, usually between thirty minutes and an hour, until the grains are soft and start to split.
Why is my koljivo sticky?
Usually because the wheat was not rinsed and dried well before mixing. Dry it for several hours on a cotton cloth.
What is the difference between koljivo and kollyva?
They are the Serbian and the Greek name for the same memorial dish of boiled wheat. Greek kollyva often has more spices, seeds and raisins.
Share this with someone it could help
