Guriev porridge facts for kids
Guryev porridge (also called Guriev kasha) is a special Russian sweet dish. It's a type of porridge made from fine semolina mixed with milk. What makes it unique are the tasty additions like candied nuts (such as hazelnuts, walnuts, or almonds), honey, and dried fruits or fruit preserves.
This dessert is traditionally made by baking milk or cream slowly until a golden "milk skin" forms on top. This skin is carefully lifted and used to separate layers of the dish's ingredients. Imagine layers of semolina, nuts, and fruit, with the milk skin in between each layer! Finally, it's sprinkled with sugar and browned until it looks delicious.
The Story Behind Guryev Porridge
The name of this famous porridge comes from a person named Count Dmitry Alexandrovich Guriev (1751–1825). He was an important figure in the Russian Empire, serving as the Minister of Finance. This means he was in charge of the country's money and economy.
Who Invented It?
There are two main stories about how Guryev porridge was invented.
- One story says it was created by a chef named Zakhar Kuzmin. He was a "serf," which was a person who worked for a landowner, almost like a servant. Zakhar worked for a retired major named Georgy Jurisovsky. Count Guriev visited Jurisovsky's home and loved the porridge so much that he bought Zakhar Kuzmin and his family to work for him as his main chef.
- Another story suggests that Count Guriev himself came up with the recipe for this delicious porridge.
A Favorite of Emperors
Guryev porridge was a very popular dish, even among royalty! It was a particular favorite of Emperor Alexander III, who ruled Russia.
There's a famous story about the emperor and this porridge. On October 17, 1888, Emperor Alexander III was traveling by train. He was being served Guryev porridge for dessert. Just as a waiter was about to pour cream over his dish, the train suddenly crashed and went off the tracks. Luckily, the emperor and his family survived the accident. This story shows just how much Emperor Alexander III enjoyed his Guryev porridge!
