Uzvar (Ukrainian Dried Fruit Drink)
Uzvar is the traditional Ukrainian dried-fruit drink at the heart of the Christmas Eve table. Think of it as the ancestor of kompot, but never boiled with sugar — instead it’s sweetened with honey off the heat, which keeps the deep, concentrated fruit flavor and a mellow honeyed edge.
The classic mix is dried apples, pears, sour cherries, plums, and raisins. Firm apples and pears get cooked separately since they need longer than the soft cherries; score any large pieces so they soften evenly.
The honey trick matters: stir it in only after the brew has cooled a bit, or the instant you pull the pot off the boil. Prolonged heat scorches its aroma and destroys its benefits. If you can find smoke-dried wild pear, it lends the old smoky note that marks the most authentic versions.
Uzvar is at its best the next day, well-steeped and cold. It keeps 2–3 days refrigerated; serve it on its own or beside kutia (the Christmas wheat-berry pudding).
Part of Ukrainian cuisine — 464 more recipes in the section.
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Ingredients
Instructions
Pick over the mixed dried fruit, rinse it several times in warm water, and set the apples and pears aside.
Cover with boiling water and cook, covered, until tender. Cook the apples and pears separately until soft, scoring large pieces.
Combine the cooked fruit, sweeten the brew with honey, bring to a boil, then set in a cool place to steep.
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