Kulish (Ukrainian Millet and Bacon Soup)
Local name: Куліш
In short: A thick, rustic one-pot soup of millet, potatoes and smoky bacon, with onion, carrot, bay leaf and a handful of fresh dill. It takes about 1 h 15 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 55 min
- Total
- 1 h 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 435 kcal
Kulish is a thick soup somewhere between stew and porridge, made with millet and potatoes and flavored with rendered pork fat or smoky bacon. It is a village dish that is easy to cook for a crowd in one pot, outdoors over a fire or on a home stove. The millet swells and thickens the broth, and garlic and dill go in at the end. Serve it very hot, with pickles and dark bread.
Instructions
- Rinse the millet in a sieve under cold water, then pour a kettle of hot water over it and drain. This removes any bitterness.
- Cook the bacon in a large pot over medium heat for 8 minutes until the fat runs and the pieces are golden. Add the onion and carrot and cook for 6 minutes until soft.
- Pour in the water, add the bay leaves and salt and bring to a boil. Add the potatoes and cook for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the millet. Lower the heat and simmer gently for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring now and then, until the millet is soft and the soup is thick.
- Stir in the garlic, pepper and dill and remove the bay leaves. Cover and rest for 10 minutes so the millet absorbs the flavors, then adjust the salt.
- Serve very hot. Add a little hot water if it has thickened too much.
Tips
- Rinse the millet in several changes of water and finish with hot water. Unrinsed millet can taste bitter.
- For a richer pot, use salo instead of bacon and add some diced smoked sausage with the onion.
Questions and answers
Can I make kulish with other grains?
Buckwheat or pearl barley work, but the cooking times change. Millet is traditional and gives the thickest result.
Can I make kulish ahead of time?
Yes. It thickens a lot in the fridge, so loosen it with hot water when you reheat it. It keeps for 3 days.
What do you serve with kulish?
Pickles, fresh garlic and dark bread are the usual partners.
How long does it take to make Kulish (Ukrainian Millet and Bacon Soup)?
About 1 h 15 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 55 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Kulish (Ukrainian Millet and Bacon Soup)?
About 435 kcal per serving, with 13 g of protein, 57 g of carbohydrates and 17 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 435 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 13 g |
| Carbohydrates | 57 g |
| Fat | 17 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 1400 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
