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–+ servings
Burbara Wheat berry dessert, close up image.
5 from 4 votes

Wheat Berry Pudding (Burbara)

A Middle Eastern dessert that is usually made and enjoyed on December 4th to mark the countdown to Christmas. It's so easy to make, made with natural ingredients (don't count the candy!), and it's naturally vegan. This porridge-like dessert will definitely warm you up on a cold day!
Author Diana
Servings 4 servings
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Soaking 8 hours
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 1 cup wheat berries The wheat berries must be soaked overnight, then boiled until tender.
  • 3 cups (720 ml) water
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 3 aniseed stars
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground anise
  • 1 teaspoon ground fennel
  • ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar adjust to your taste
  • 1 cup dried fruits chopped

Instructions

  • Soak the wheat berries overnight then wash them under cold water until the running water is clear.
  • In a pot, boil in water along with the whole spices. When the wheat berries are half cooked, add the dried fruit and ground spices and cook for 15-20 more minutes or until the wheat is tender and cooked through. The whole cooking process normally takes between 30-45 minutes.
  • Keep in mind that the wheat berries should and will stay chewy, that's just the natural texture of the wheat.

Pressure cooker method:

  • Add all of the ingredients to the pressure cooker (except for the toppings). Cover with the lid, and make sure that the vent is on SEALING position.
  • Pressure cook for 10 minutes on HIGH, and allow the steam to be naturally released. Serve with your favorite toppings.

Notes

  • The ratio of wheat to water is generally 1:3, so if I'm making 1 cup of wheat berries then I'll add 3 cups of water. However, I strongly recommend that you keep checking on your wheat berries every 10-15 minutes in case you need to add a little bit of more boiling water.
  • You will also need to give the wheat berries a stir every now and then, as they're known for liking to stick to the bottom of the pot!
Toppings:
  • Desiccated or shredded coconut
  • Nuts - Walnuts, almonds, pine nuts, pistachios, you name it!
  • Pomegranate seeds.
  • Fennel candy and candied chickpeas.

Nutrition

Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 10mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 13g | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 2mg
Find it online: https://littlesunnykitchen.com/wheat-berry-burbara/