# Semolina Porridge / Mannaya Kasha **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 31, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semolina-porridge-mannaya-kasha/815226 "2018-05-31T22:01:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![molten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ec9cab/32.png) [@molten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/molten)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semolina-porridge-mannaya-kasha/815226/1 "2018-05-31T22:01:28Z")
I ate this back in the 90s in Ukraine. I would like to make something similar here in the US. I am confused about the ingredients, specifically what flour I need to get? What is a good flavoring to add to it that one finds at Walmart? ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semolina-porridge-mannaya-kasha/815226/2 "2018-05-31T23:40:15Z")
I’ve never made it, but from looking at recipes online, it’s just semolina flour. That’s not the most common of ingredients, but I wouldn’t be surprised if your WalMart carried it. Look in the organic section, or wherever they stock Bob’s Red Mill products. As far as flavorings, most recipes seem to just call for berries. Another thought: Semolina flour isn’t exactly the same, but it’s not altogether different, than Cream of Wheat. If you have a hard time finding Semolina, try making Cream of Wheat from the box using milk as the liquid, and adding some butter & berries. Could be close enough? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2018, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semolina-porridge-mannaya-kasha/815226/3 "2018-05-31T23:42:42Z")
I thought these were lyrics to _I Am The Walrus._ ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semolina-porridge-mannaya-kasha/815226/4 "2018-06-01T00:02:58Z")
Thread relocated from IMHO to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semolina-porridge-mannaya-kasha/815226/5 "2018-06-01T04:31:30Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I thought these were lyrics to _I Am The Walrus._ Now in Cafe Society it _really_ looks like those song lyrics. Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allen Poe. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semolina-porridge-mannaya-kasha/815226/6 "2018-06-01T05:49:01Z")
Semolina flour is coarse ground. The grain size varies. Finer grains resemble Farina (Cream of Wheat) such as in Bob’s Red Mill. I haven’t found much coarser grain available in anything but 50lb. bags. I would think the coarser grains make a better porridge. Semolina should be somewhat higher in protein and lower in carbs than Farina. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semolina-porridge-mannaya-kasha/815226/7 "2018-06-01T05:53:20Z")
Cream of Wheat cereal: [![](https://e22d0640933e3c7f8c86-34aee0c49088be50e3ac6555f6c963fb.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/0013130060250_CL_version_type_large.jpeg) ](https://e22d0640933e3c7f8c86-34aee0c49088be50e3ac6555f6c963fb.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/0013130060250_CL_version_type_large.jpeg) Comes in a variety of flavors, including maple and brown sugar. I like mine with butter, too. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semolina-porridge-mannaya-kasha/815226/8 "2018-06-01T05:59:35Z")
On the Russian version of _ **Sesame Street** _, the Muppets sang a song called “Mannaya kasha” that was a parody of Madonna’s “Material Girl.” My bilingual daughter, who was three or four at the time, called it “The Cream of Wheat Girl” song. ---
**Author:** ![ashtayk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@ashtayk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashtayk)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semolina-porridge-mannaya-kasha/815226/9 "2018-06-01T15:18:46Z")
If you want coarse semolina, go to an Indian grocery store and ask for “Upma” flour. Then, after you have satisfied your craving for porridge, look up recipes for Upma and proceed to make some savory, healthy breakfasty snack. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/semolina-porridge-mannaya-kasha/815226/10 "2018-06-03T21:33:49Z")
Yes, upma is yummy. With fried onion, black mustard seeds, curry leaves, and chilis? Absolutely!