The East Village Ukrainian restaurant Veselka serves the Sviata Vecheria, a traditional 12-dish dinner that is meatless and dairy-free. It is eaten before Mass on Christmas Eve and is followed, on Christmas morning, by a prodigious feast of ham and sausages. Sviata Vecheria ends with uzvar, a sweet, spiced compote of dried fruit.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried apples, in bite-size pieces
- 1 cup dried pears, in bite-size pieces
- ½ cup pitted prunes
- ½ cup raisins
- 1 lemon, another to taste
- 1 cup honey, more to taste
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 whole cloves
- 2 quarts apple cider
- Nutritional Information
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)
512 calories; 0 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 134 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 117 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 31 milligrams sodium
Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
2 quarts
Preparation
- In a deep nonreactive pot, combine apples, pears, prunes and raisins. Carefully peel lemon, adding yellow peel to pot and leaving white pith behind. Squeeze juice from lemon into pot.
- Stir in remaining ingredients. Liquid should cover fruit by at least one inch; add water if necessary. Cover and bring to a boil, then simmer until fruit is very tender but not mushy, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Remove and discard lemon peel, cinnamon and cloves. Taste and adjust seasonings with more honey and lemon juice; compote should not be overly sweet. Serve warm.
30 minutes
Dining and Cooking