Recipe #10
Žito (Wheat Berry Pudding)

This wheat berry pudding is a simple dessert of cooked grain, walnuts, and sugar. Žito (meaning grain in serbian) symbolizes life and death, harvest and renewal and is usually prepared to commemorate and remember the dead, served on special occasions.

It has some similarity to Frumenty, an ancient dish and one of the oldest recipes that exist. The oldest notes from a medieval recipe collection are dating back to 1381, when dishes just started being preserved for future generations. It was made of wheat cooked in almond broth. Early recipes were plain, later sweet flavourings and fruits were added.

Wheat berries take longer to cook since they are not refined like flour or cereal grains that’s why it’s best to soak them in water somewhere between over night and for 24 hours first.

INGREDIENTS

I like to add various grains to the wheat and prefer this version to the original one, due to its richness in flavour that the combination of different grains provides.

400 g whole grain berries (traditionally just wheat but I like to use a mix of wheat, rye, spelt, barley, oat and millet. Buckwheat also works well, in case you like its taste)

300 g walnuts, roasted (you can replace / combine them with roasted almonds. I‘m generally a fan of: use whatever you find at home and embrace the differences in taste, each time)

80 g brown sugar

a little vanilla bean paste

a pinch of salt

optional:

a pinch of nutmeg, for some spiciness

dried fruits, chopped (figs, cranberries or dates)

Serve with: fresh whipped (oat) cream or vanilla ice cream

PREPARATION

1. Let the berries soak in water for about 24 hours.

2. Rinse off berries, put the grain berries (and dry fruits) in a sauce pan, refill with fresh water and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 20 minutes.

3. Meanwhile roast the nuts.

4. In a blender, add the nuts and sugar and mix them all together, until they become a little smoother.

5. Let it all cool down and serve a generous tablespoon of Žito with some fresh cream on top. Enjoy!

Note:
When you have Žito leftovers you can pour over some hot oat milk over the grains. Also good when you leave out the sugar and just add some dried or fresh fruits for some tender sweetness.