How to Make and Decorate Traditional Koliva

In this video, we’re going to take the mystery out of making and decorating koliva. We'll be breaking down the recipe and decoration into simple steps to give you the confidence to bring this beautiful Orthodox tradition into your own homes and families :)
There’s even a two-minute decorating design included that absolutely everyone can do!
Traditional Koliva Recipe
For ALL SOULS SATURDAY
Use cereal-sized decorative bowl to plate
Ingredients
• 1 cups dried wheat berries www.amazon.com...
• 6 cups water
• 2 cup crushed graham crackers
• 1⁄2 cup toasted sesame seeds
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1⁄3 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds available year round at Trader Joe’s
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
2 cups powdered sugar
***For funeral or memorial serve, see ingredients amounts below
Decorative options - MUST BE EDIBLE
(these are in addition to the amounts above if you also are using to decorate with)
• whole, blanched almonds
• candy covered Jordan almonds
golden raisins
Parsley stems and leaves
Slivered almonds - use natural or, to dye, add few drops of liquid food coloring and add slivered almonds, soak until desired color and dry well at least 8-10 hours.
• pomegranate seeds
• cinnamon sugar - equal parts cinnamon and granulated sugar
dusting powder colors - mix 1 part dust to 4 parts granulated sugar
Sanding sugars www.amazon.com...
Gold/silver dragees assorted
***Deco packs for 2 minute koliva dish shown in video www.amazon.com...
Make ahead option:
You can go as far as mixing all the ingredients into the cooked wheat and keep in a Ziploc back in the refrigerator for up to 3 days ahead. Allow time for wheat mixture to come to room temperature before using.
Instructions
Rinse wheat berries and add to large pot with 6 cups cold water. Bring to a boil, lower to a simmer and cook for about an hour until soft but not mushy. Grains of wheat will begin to plump and almost split.
*Add a cinnamon stick , the peel of 1 orange or 1 tsp anise seeds to the boiling water for extra flavor.
Drain cooked wheat well and transfer to a double-layer paper towel lined sheet pan. Spread wheat out in a single layer. Allow at least 6 hours to dry completely, preferably overnight. Gently move the wheat around as it dries. You can do this up to 3 days ahead and store, covered in the refrigerator.
Prep Mix-In Ingredients
• Crush graham crackers finely in food processor or by hand. Set aside.
• Lightly toast sesame seeds in frying pan over VERY low heat for max 3-4 minutes until the seeds just begin to release their sesame aroma. Set aside.
• IF YOU HAVE A WHOLE POMEGRANATE: Cut and de-seed pomegranate and set aside on paper towel to dry. USING SEEDS: dry well on paper towel.
• Chop fresh parsley well and set aside. Make sure to rinse parsley well and
pat dry before chopping.
• Chop walnuts into small pieces and set aside.
Break up golden raisins/sultanas, soak in boiling water for 15 min, set aside.
Once wheat is completely dry, transfer from towel/sheet to large bowl.
It should feel soft but not tacky or sticky.
Combine wheat with other ingredients - except the powdered sugar.
AND REMEMBER to reserve 1/2 cup crushed graham crackers.
Mix gently and well to incorporate everything completely.
Transfer wheat mixture to bowl or platter of your choice and gently pat down. Cover with remaining 1 cup of crushed graham crackers and pat down gently and well. The back of a large spoon does this job perfectly. Once the crushed graham crackers have covered the wheat mixture completely - it may take 2-3 light layers - and the wheat mixture is no longer visible, carefully sift powdered sugar over the crushed graham crackers. Pat down and smooth using back of large spoon over piece of parchment or wax paper.
Decorate as desired.
MAKE SURE ALL DECORATIONS ARE EDIBLE
A ceramic stylus is good for making divets and trenches to place dragees and sanding sugars.
Stencils work well, filled in with sanding sugar, small dragees or pom seeds.
BE VERY CAREFUL transporting the koliva to church!
Consider decorating your koliva at church if you are going to make an intricate design - this is a great option and much less stressful!
Funeral or Memorials Sized Koliva
Ingredients
Ingredients
• 2 cups dried wheat berries
• 10 cups water
• 3 cup crushed graham crackers
• 1 cup toasted sesame seeds
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 2/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 cup pomegranate seeds (approx 1 ripe pomegranate)
• 1 cup golden raisins
4 cups powdered sugar

[@TheWiscuit]

My wheat berries always stick when I dry them out on a sheet. What can I do to not make it stick?

[@TheGreekVegan]

First thought, you may try boiling your wheat for less time. If the kernels are sticky, they maybe be slightly over boiled and that shows up in a kind of tackiness .
If that’s not your issue, I have two suggestions. First, I would try stirring the drying koliva around on the sheet in the first 1-3 hours of drying time.
That way they don’t get the chance to settle and stick.
Second option, before turning your wheat out on to the sheet, dust the sheet with almond flour. Not more than a few tbsp. Let me know how it goes!

[@tinyjungle_]

I'm really interested in the recipe for the second pic in your intro. What is this stew, and do you have a recipe anywhere for it? ευχαριστώ

[@TheGreekVegan]

It’s on thegreekvegan.com - search under Vegetable Stew 👍🏻🍃🇬🇷

[@tinyjungle_]

@TheGreekVegan Thank you. I found it right after I asked the question. Thx again

[@marievagianos3838]

✝️