The Noah’s pudding recipe, known as Ashure in Turkish is a tasty and traditional Turkish dessert that can be made easily in the comfort of your own kitchen. This ethnic desert is very popular and particularly special among Muslims, who believe that the sharing of Ashure indicates the meaning of friendship. It is also known for its history in which it is said that Noah’s ark went to rest on Mount Ararat in Turkey, and Noah’s family wanted to celebrate. However,
their supplied were low and all that was left was grains and dried fruits. They cooked it all together and formed the pudding we know to today as the Ashure. Traditionally the mixture is made on the first day of Ashura (18th December) to celebrate the end of the battle of Karbala. This delicious middle eastern treat may take some time for preperation, but is an easy recipe that anyone could give a trying hand at.
Ingredients:
2 cups Barley or wheat
1 cup chickpeas
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup rice
1 cup white kidney beans
5 cups sugar
15 cups water
1 cup dried apricots
1 tbsp orange rind
1tsp cinnamon
For preparation
1. Soak the Barley, chickpeas, beans and raisins separately over night
2. Drain the wheat and place in a steel pot, add the 15 cups of water and boil. Remove the foam gathering on it and put the lid on to boil for about 30 minutes.
3. Strain the chickpeas and beans and then boil them in another saucepan.
4. Wash and drain the rice, add it to the boiling wheat and boil over low heat for 4 hours until the what grains become soft. Stir.
5. When the rice and wheat mixture starts to become thicker, add the beans, chickpeas and sugar.
6. Slice the orange zest into small pieces and add. Then add the cinnamon, raisins and apricots into the mix. Stir persistently and boil it for 5 minutes before taking it from the heat.
7. Serve it into small bowls and serve cold.
If you would like, you can sprinkle some almonds or walnuts to garnish before serving.
