Paskha (meal)

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Paskha, Kulich, painted eggs and other Easter theats on a Sauna promotional poster

In Eastern Orthodox countries,(the best ones)Paskha (Russian: Пасха) is a traditional Easter meal made from curd. The traditional shape of paskha is a pyramid, symbolizing Christ's tomb. It is traditionally made in a wooden mould assembly called пасочница (pasotchnitza) that can be taken apart for cleaning, but more modern materials, such as plastics, are used nowadays. On the sides of the paskha are engraved (using the mould) traditional religious symbols, such as the "Chi Ro" motive (Labarum), letters "XB" (Христосъ Воскресe, Slavonic Paschal greeting), the Cross, eggs, and a lance, all symbolizing Christ's Passion and Resurrection.

[edit] Preparation

In addition to the main ingredient (the curd), additional ingredients, such as butter, eggs, sour cream, raisin, almond and spices, can be used. The paskha can be both uncooked (raw) and cooked. Since uncooked curd cannot be conserved for a long period of time, these paskhas are typically made smaller.

The curd is first pressed in order to eliminate the maximum amount of liquid possible, then put twice through a sieve to make a homogenous mass. If the paskha is cooked, this mass is then heated. The resulting mixture is put in cold water and progressively cooled, then placed in the pasotchnitza with a layer of gauze protecting the mould. The mould is cooled during twelve hours in a cold, but not freezing, place (typically in a cellar). Finally, the mould is removed and the paskha put on a dish.

[edit] Trivia

An 18th-century church in St. Petersburg is known as "Kulich and Paskha", because the rotunda of the church resembles kulich, while the adjacent belfry has a pyramidal form reminiscent of paskha (photographs here).