Mulgi-Mulgimaa is a district in South-Estonia with its own culture, food and dialect.
My mother is Mulk and so am I. Mulgipuder means Mulgi’s porridge. This dish is very old though. In former times when people had wood burning stoves, the porridge was placed on a stove in the morning where it had time to cook and get simmer and better. People just had more time.
Mulgid (the people who lived in Mulgimaa) were wealthy. But because in early times animals were more important than people, they were usually to ones who got to eat the porridge first. And if there was anything left from the dish it was passed on to the rest of the family. Like my mother used to say – the Mulgi’s porridge was a pig food (Bon appétit! Sorry!)
Despite all, I and Estonians love this dish. It’s very, very nourishing and filling with an option to cook it completely vegan-friendly!
Potato and pearl barley porridge, i.e. potato-barley mash, originates from Southern Estonia. People in Southern Estonia (the Mulgi people) started boiling potatoes and pearl barley together in the second half of the 19th century as the combination was very filling. By the last quarter of the 19th century, this porridge was known all over Estonia. In the second half of the 20th century, this dish reached cafeterias as well and it has by now become a national dish that is served at various official events.
Potatoes and Groats Mash. Mulgipuder
Nourishing and delicious traditional Estonian Mash.

Ingredients
- 3/4 glass of groats
- 1 litre peeled, sliced into 4, potatoes
- salt
Directions
- If you have natural groats, let them overnight swell in the cold water.
- Put all ingredients into a pot, add ca 1 litre of water
- Simmer on to low heat under the lid while groats are ready. Stir after time
- Smash
Serve with bacon and fermented milk
Head isu!
Soundtrack “Isamaa ilu hoieldes”
More Mulgi Dishes
and Mulgi Kapsad
Looks delicious !
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Thank you !! 🙂
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You had me at potatoes! Looks delicious!
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🙂 thank you 🙂
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Interesting combination! What kind of grain is the groats that you’ve used?
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Mulgipudet is traditionaly with barley, which are combined with potato 🙂
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Thanks for clarifying that. 🙂
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Thanks for the visit today, KR. Your food pictures look so delicious; they almost make me want to cook! 😀
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Thank you 🙂
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Great post as usual! 😀
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Thank you ! 🙂
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