The final three recipes for Christmas Eve dishes are perhaps our favorite items. There are no holidays without dried fruits and nuts, which are featured heavily in this part. In our store, you will find almost everything you need to prepare traditional holidays. We are very happy to be able to help in preparing such a beautiful time in your homes.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- Dried fruit compote (Kompot z suszu).
- Christmas Eve meatless lentil pasties.
- Kutia with amaranth and millet - wheat-free.
- Summary.
dried fruit compote
We can probably agree that dried fruit compote is one of the most controversial dishes on the Christmas Eve table. For decades, Polish families have faced "compote divides," because you either love it and ask for seconds or hate it and don't even want to smell it. Dried fruit is our absolute specialty, so we definitely encourage you to try it, especially since this drink supports digestion—so we don't have to worry if other dishes will sit well—and it is a true vitamin bomb.
INGREDIENTS:
- Christmas Eve dried fruit mix or chosen dried fruits:
- California dried prunes
- Dried apricots
- Dried apples
- Dried figs
- Thompson raisins
- Cloves
- Star anise (optional)
- Cinnamon stick
- Honey
- Water
- Lemon (optional)
PREPARATION:
Rinse the Christmas Eve dried fruit mix or dried fruits in roughly equal amounts (approx. 100 g), transfer to a large pot, add a handful of raisins, and cover with approx. 2 liters of boiling water. Leave overnight. If you don't like the aroma of smoked prunes, we recommend trying a version made only with dried fruits.
The next day, bring the fruit to a boil in the same water they were soaking in. Add a cinnamon stick, a bit of ground cloves, and optionally a few stars of anise. Cook on low heat for a few minutes, making sure the fruit doesn't fall apart. The pieces also taste excellent!
Check the taste, and if the compote is not sweet enough, add honey as desired. You can also add lemon juice.
Set the drink aside for about 2-3 hours to let the flavors develop. If it turns out too concentrated, you can dilute it by adding water.
In addition to the fruits mentioned above, you can also add a handful of cranberries or freeze-dried cherries to achieve a more tart flavor.
Christmas Eve dried fruit compote can be served both warm and chilled, poured into a pitcher along with the fruit pieces.
Christmas Eve meatless lentil pasties
Before the holidays, we are all rushed and busy, so without unnecessary introductions, let's get to the point. Remember that you don't have to strictly stick to the recipe. Christmas Eve pasties pair perfectly not only with lentils but also with spinach or mushrooms—only our imagination limits us. Ready?
INGREDIENTS:
- Wheat flour (traditional or spelt) - 3 cups
- Instant yeast
- Milk
- Unrefined rapeseed oil
- Eggs
- Cane sugar
- Salt
- Thyme
- Red lentils
- Dried mushrooms approx. 5 pieces
- Dried onion
- Ground black pepper
- Red borscht for serving
- Marjoram
PREPARATION:
Heat a cup of milk so it is warm, not hot. Add a bit of flour and instant yeast (in the amount described on the package). Sweeten with 1 tablespoon of cane sugar and stir. Cover with a cloth and set aside in a warm place. After about 20 minutes, add the rest of the flour, an egg, and knead into a smooth dough, finally adding melted butter. Set the dough aside for 30 minutes to rise.
Cook the lentils in salted water until soft, then drain.
Put the dried mushrooms into heated oil and season with thyme. We want the filling to have enough fat, so you don't have to measure the amount drop by drop ;)
When the ingredients are sautéed, add the lentils and two handfuls of dried onion. Then season with salt and pepper. Heat everything together for a moment. Leave to cool.
When the dough has risen nicely, roll it out to a thickness of 0.5-1 cm. Cut into sheets measuring 8-10 cm x 20 cm. Apply the lentil filling and roll up so that the seam of the dough is underneath.
Beat 1 egg with a bit of milk and brush our pasties arranged on a tray so they can get a golden color. Bake at 190°C (fan) for approx. 25 minutes.
Pasties taste best served with red borscht. We recommend our ready-made borscht, which only needs to be heated and seasoned with pepper and marjoram to taste.
KUTIA WITH AMARANTH AND MILLET - WHEAT-FREE
The huge advantage of kutia is undoubtedly the ease with which it can be adapted to individual nutritional needs. Even if some of the guests at your Christmas Eve table suffer from food intolerances or allergies, there is no need for them to deny themselves traditional dishes that day. We present a Christmas Eve kutia in a version with amaranth and millet, which everyone will enjoy and will not harm anyone.
INGREDIENTS:
- Amaranth seeds - 1 cup
- Millet - 1 cup
- Blue poppy seeds - 1 cup
- Sultana raisins
- Goji berries
- Honey
- Nuts (various)
- Almond flakes
- Vanilla bean
- Dried orange peel or fresh orange juice
PREPARATION:
Cover the poppy seeds with water, set aside for 2-3 hours to swell, then cook until soft and drain.
Cook the amaranth seeds according to the instructions on the package.
Toast the millet in a saucepan (stirring constantly), and when it begins to smell nutty, pour over boiling water (approx. 250 ml). Set the pot with millet in a warm place, e.g., in a warm oven or wrap it in a blanket, so the grains absorb all the water and soften.
In the meantime, chop 1 cup of nuts (we recommend using half a cup of walnuts and adding hazelnuts and pecans to the other half) or crush them in a blender into small pieces and combine with the poppy seeds, which can be pre-ground, but it's not necessary. Add approx. 30 g of goji berries and half a cup of raisins. Sweeten everything with 4 tablespoons of honey, add spices as desired and optionally 2 tablespoons of orange peel or freshly squeezed orange juice, and mix very thoroughly.
Next, combine the nut and fruit mass with the millet and amaranth.
Transfer the prepared mass to a baker's dish. Sprinkle the top with toasted almond flakes. Bake in the oven (fan) at 200 degrees for about 15 minutes.
Leave to cool. Voila!
SUMMARY
Christmas Eve is the most important dinner in Polish tradition; we prepare for no other with such commitment and care. Unfortunately, times are so difficult that we increasingly have to choose among products we used to put in our baskets without a second thought. And here is where our role begins, as we want everyone to be able to enjoy the holidays just like in the old days. Therefore, we have prepared a wide offer for this special time and a series of promotions that will ensure your favorite products can find their way onto the Christmas Eve table. Moreover, shopping in our store is also a time-saver, as you will find almost everything associated with Christmas here. Well... maybe except for the carp ;)
We wish everyone family-filled, delicious holidays and, as always, we look forward to hearing about your culinary endeavors!
