Kollyva
For the Memorial Services

Start preparation of Kollyva two days in advance and assemble the day of the service.

    1 cup shelled wheat (I buy mine from Nature’s)
    1/8 cup granulated sugar
    ¼ cup finely chopped walnuts
    ¼ cup slivered almonds
    ½ cup white raisins
    ½ tsp. cinnamon
    ½ tsp. coriander
    ½ tsp. cumin
    ½ cup powdered sugar
    ½ cup finely ground zwieback toast

    Optional: seeds of ½ a pomegranate, ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley, ¼ cup pine nuts

    Decoration: slivered almonds, white candied almonds (Jordan almonds or Koufeta), large silver dragees (silver koufeta).  Also pre-made Crosses & Initials are available at Logos Bookstore.

Cover the wheat with water and soak overnight.  Drain and rinse.  Cover with 1 quart water in a large pot and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer uncovered several hours, keeping the wheat covered with water and stirring occasionally, until wheat becomes puffy and tender.  (Cooking time varies with time of soaking.)  Drain in a colander, rinse, and drain again.  Spread the wheat out on a smooth dish towel to dry overnight. (If desired, burn a kandili/ vigil lamp beside the wheat as it dries.)

Prepare all other ingredients but do not assembly until the day of the service to prevent mush like texture.

On the day of the service light a censer and kandili/vigil lamp while making the kollyva (if there are two people, have one read prayers while the other prepares… if one person, I put on a CD of liturgical music).  Combine all the ingredients except the powdered sugar, zwieback crumbs, and decorations.  There are two ways to “present” your kollyva… on a tray or in a bowl.

-On a tray… cover tray with wax paper.  Put combined mixture on tray and mold into a heaping mound toward the center, pressing it smooth. 

-In a bowl… pour combined mixture into a bowl.  Press it smooth on the top.

Spread crumbs evenly over the top, making sure the wheat is thoroughly covered, and press down. (This layer keeps the wheat mixture from bleeding through to the top layer of powdered sugar.)  Sift powdered sugar over the mound or bowl and press smooth with wax paper.

Make a cross in the center with the koufeta or silver dragees 

For a memorial service (commemorating one person)… use slivered almonds to form the initial of the first name of the deceased on the left side of the cross and the initial of the last name on the right.

For a Saturday of Souls service, do not put initials of the deceased since kollyva for Saturday of Souls is generally made for more than one person.

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