Magda's Cauldron

Poppy seeds may look tiny and innocent, but in Polish tradition they carry a lot of magic. For centuries, bowls, cakes and noodles full of poppy seeds appeared on Christmas Eve tables as quiet wishes for a better year ahead. All those little dots stood for prosperity, fertility and abundance. The more seeds, the more good things were meant to come your way.
Our ancestors believed that poppy seeds could protect the home, bring calm sleep after a long winter night and make sure the pantry would not be empty in the coming year. In some regions they were even seen as a bridge between the world of the living and the dead, a way to remember loved ones who were no longer at the table but still very present in people’s thoughts. That’s why poppy appears in so many Christmas dishes: rolls, noodles, sweet breads, even special regional desserts.
This poppy seed filling (masa makowa) is that symbolism in a jar. Once you make it from scratch, it becomes your base for more than ten different Polish Christmas treats: from classic makowiec to noodles with poppy seeds, kutia, makiełki and layered desserts. It’s a little bit of old Slavic belief, a little bit of Polish Christmas nostalgia, and a lot of flavor.

Poppy Seed Filling

• Servings: Makes a small jar
• Cook Time: 45 min
• Difficulty: Easy
• Print

A rich, aromatic mixture of ground poppy seeds, honey, nuts, dried fruit and citrus used as a base for Christmas desserts like makowiec, kutia and noodles with poppy seeds.

Ingredients

• 500 g (4 cups) poppy seeds
• 170 g (¾ cup) light brown sugar or caster sugar
• 3 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon soft butter
• 100 g mix of raisins, prunes, dates, figs, dried apricots or dried cranberries, chopped
• 50 g walnuts or mix of any nuts, chopped
• ½ cup candied orange peel, chopped
• 1 tablespoon almond extract or almond flavouring

Directions

Put the poppy seeds in a saucepan and cover with boiling water, just to cover.
Simmer gently for 20 minutes, then drain very well.
Grind the poppy seeds twice, until soft and a bit pasty.
In a clean pan melt the butter, then add sugar and honey. Stir until dissolved.
Add it to the ground poppy seeds.
Add chopped nuts, dried fruits, candied orange peel, orange zest, orange juice and almond extract. Mix well and taste, Transfer to a jar and store in the fridge for up to a week. Or freeze it for later.
Use this as a base for makowiec, kutia, Christmas noodles with poppy seeds and other festive dessert.