Catholic Recipe: Kamhié (Dessert for St. Barbara's Day)
- 3 c. (300 g) wheat, whole grain
- 8 c. (21) water, boiling
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 c. (100 g) raisins, golden
- 1/2 c. (100 g) pine nuts
- 1/2 c. (100 g) walnuts, chopped
- 1/2 c. (100 g) almonds, chopped
- 2/3 c. (100 g) candied mixed peel
- 1/2 tsp rose water
- 1 c. (250 g) sugar, or a mixture of half sugar and half honey
Topping - cinnamon sugar
- walnuts or pistachios, chopped or grated
Details
- Serves: 8 to 10
- Prep Time: 5-7 hours
- Difficulty: • • • •
- Cost: $$$$
- For Ages: All
- Origin: Armenia, Syria and Lebanon
Food Categories
Feasts
In Armenia, Syria and Lebanon, the Chrsitmas season begins on December 4, the feast of St. Barbara. This is the traditional dessert for that day, and while the wheat is cooking, the head of the household is supposed to tell the legend of St. Barbara.
DIRECTIONS
Wash grain thoroughly under cold running water. Drain well and put into a heavy saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. A slow cooker may be used instead. Add the salt and 8 cups of boiling water, cover tightly and simmer slowly until the wheat is soft but not mushy. This may take 4 to 6 hours.
The consistency should be similar to that of porridge. If there is too much liquid, it should be drained.
Continuing to cook the grain over low heat, stir in the raisins, pine nuts, walnuts, almonds, mixed peel, sugar and rose water. Stir until sugar is dissolved and the mixture thick and moist.
Remove from heat and spoon into individual dessert dishes or one large bowl. Serve sprinkled with cinnamon, sugar and the chopped walnuts or pistachios.
Recipe Source: Cooking With the Saints by Ernst Schuegraf, Ignatius Press, 2001
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