Kollyva - Traditional Greek Recipe for Memorial Services - ingredients list at the end.

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: agave syrup

Honey adds natural sweetness with fewer calories.

walnuts

🥗Healthier: pumpkin seeds

💰Cheaper: sunflower seeds

Pumpkin seeds provide healthy fats and are often cheaper.

raisins

🥗Healthier: dried apricots

💰Cheaper: dried cranberries

Dried apricots offer a unique flavor and are often more affordable.

almonds

🥗Healthier: cashews

💰Cheaper: peanuts

Cashews are creamy and nutritious, while peanuts are budget-friendly.

Spread the wheat grains on a flat surface and inspect them, removing any pebbles or dark grains, doing this three times while praying for the departed.

Rinse the wheat thoroughly with cold water until the water becomes clear.

Boil the wheat in a large amount of water for about 40 to 50 minutes until the grains are tender, topping up the water once or twice if necessary.

Toast the sesame seeds until they become a light honey color, then spread them on a flat plate to cool.

Toast the slivered almonds next.

Once the sesame seeds have cooled, grind them into a grit.

Rinse the wheat several times until all the sticky starch has been washed away, then rinse again.

Spread the grains in a colander and place it in a warm oven at 60 to 80 degrees Celsius for about 20 minutes, stirring a couple of times during the drying process to ensure even drying; the grains should remain moist but not wet.

In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients except for the sesame and icing sugar.

Add the ouzo to the mixture after realizing it was forgotten.

Put enough of the mixture into a presentation bowl, leaving at least 10 to 15 millimeters for the layer of sesame and icing sugar on top.

Use oven paper cut to shape to help smooth the surface of the mixture in the bowl.

Leave the icing sugar layer and decorations until the morning of serving to avoid dampness.

Smooth the surface and clean the bowl's edges before decorating with various items like roasted almonds, nuts, sultanas, or using stencils for design.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens