The Gouryevskaya kasha (Kasha Gur’ev) is a classic Russian dessert, made of semolina, nuts, and fresh fruit, invented at the beginning of the 19th century by Zakhar Kuzmin, a peasant who served as a cook in the house of the Russian finance minister Dmitry Guryev.
It is also said to be the favorite dish of Tsar Alexander III.
The Gouryevskaya kasha is considered a kind of Russian porridge and there are many preparations and recipes, even savory ones, but there is always a cereal at the base.
Kasha is a Slavic term that mainly refers to a warm, comforting dish made from toasted cereals, especially buckwheat (grechka), served both sweet (with milk, fruit, honey) and savory (with onions, mushrooms, butter).
In the original recipe of Gouryevskaya kasha, there are as many as 6 layers of dried fruit, but I limited myself to only one.
The Guryevskaya kasha is not to be confused with Mannya kasha (see below), which is also made of semolina but served only at breakfast, mainly for children due to its extremely creamy texture.
- Difficulty: Medium
- Cost: Cheap
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: 6 people
- Cooking methods: Boiling
- Cuisine: Russian
Ingredients
- 1 liter milk
- 130 g sugar (+ 2 tablespoons for caramelizing the nuts)
- 200 g semolina
- to taste salt
- 40 g butter
- 1 packet vanillin
- to taste fresh fruit (strawberries, blueberries, berries …)
- 60 g walnut kernels
Preparation
Bring 800 ml of milk to a boil with 50 g sugar, add the semolina and a pinch of salt. Lower the heat and cook for 5 minutes.
Turn off the heat and add the butter, 80 g of sugar, and the vanillin. Mix.
Spread the mixture in two baking dishes and bake at 356°F (180°C) after dusting the surface with some sugar for about 5/7 minutes.
Prepare the cream mixture that forms from cooking the remaining milk in the oven. When the cream rises to the surface, remove it and set it aside. Continue until finished.
Mix the cream with the walnut kernels, caramelized beforehand in a pan with sugar and water.
Place the two semolina mixtures one on top of the other with the cream and nut mixture in the center.
Decorate with fresh fruit (strawberries and blueberries) and the fruit syrup itself.
Post of Gouryvskaya kasha on Instagram @viaggiandomangiando80:
Post of Gouryvskaya kasha on Instagram @viaggiandomangiando80:
Post of Gouryvskaya kasha on Instagram @viaggiandomangiando80:
If you want to delve deeper into Russian history and your knowledge of Tsar Alexander III, here is an antique book: Alessandro III Czar delle Russie.
What is the difference between Mannaya kasha and Gouryvskaya kasha?
Mannaya kasha and Guryevskaya kasha are both traditional Slavic cereal-based preparations, but they are very different in ingredients, technique, and context:
1. Mannaya Kasha (манная каша)
• What it is: a simple porridge of semolina (fine wheat flour).
• Basic Ingredients:
Semolina
Milk or water
Sugar
Butter
• Consistency: creamy, smooth, sometimes very thick.
• Context: it is a common breakfast, especially for children.
• Serving: with butter, jams, or sugar.
2. Guryevskaya Kasha (Гурьевская каша)
• What it is: an aristocratic and rich preparation, originating in the 19th century.
• Basic Ingredients:
Semolina
Milk
Cream (with baked crusts)
Dried fruits (nuts, almonds)
Candied fruit
Caramelized sugar
Butter
• Technique: it is prepared in layers, alternating semolina with cream crusts (obtained from several slow bakes of milk/cream) and dried fruits, then baked.
• Context: served as a luxury dessert, even on festive occasions.
In summary:
• Mannaya kasha = simple, everyday porridge
• Guryevskaya kasha = rich, layered, and festive version, almost like a baked dessert.
