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Uzvar
Smoky dried-fruit drink for Sviat Vechir
Uzvar is the dark, smoky-sweet drink brewed from dried apples, pears and plums that closes the Holy Supper on Ukrainian Christmas Eve, Sviat Vechir, where it is one of the twelve meatless dishes alongside kutia. In villages across Podillia and the Carpathians the fruit is dried in the oven or over smoke in autumn, which gives uzvar its distinctive campfire note; market stalls sell ready-mixed bags in December. It is drunk warm in winter and chilled in summer, and is naturally vegan when sweetened with sugar instead of honey. Chef's tip: simmer gently, then let it steep for several hours; common mistake is boiling it hard, which turns the fruit to mush and the drink cloudy.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Rinse 3 ½ oz dried apple rings, 3 ½ oz dried pears, 2 ⅞ oz smoked prunes or prunes, 1 ⅜ oz raisins and 2 tbsp dried rosehips in warm water, rubbing off any dust, and drain.
Step 2: Put the pears and apples in a large pot with 10 ½ cups water. Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer gently for 15 minutes; pears and apples take longest to soften.
15 minStep 3: Add the prunes, raisins and rosehips and simmer 5–10 minutes more, until all the fruit is plump and the liquid is amber and smells of baked apple and smoke. Keep it at a lazy bubble, never a rolling boil.
8 minStep 4: Stir in 3 tbsp sugar until dissolved, cover and leave off the heat for at least 3 hours, or overnight, to deepen.
Step 5: Strain into a jug, or serve with a few pieces of fruit in each glass. Drink warm or chilled; it keeps 4 days in the fridge.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 80 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does uzvar take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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