A traditional dessert in Turkey, the Caucasus and Balkans
Ashure |
| Alternative names | Ashura, anusabur (անուշապուր), aşure, Noah's pudding |
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| Type | Porridge |
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| Course | Dessert |
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| Region or state | Turkey, Balkans, Armenia |
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| Main ingredients | Grains, fruits and nuts |
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Ashure or Noah's pudding is a sweet pudding that is made of a mixture consisting of various types of grains, fresh and dried fruits, and nuts. Ashure was traditionally made and eaten during the colder months of the year due to its heavy and calorie rich nature, but now it is enjoyed year-round.
Armenians make it as a Christmas pudding and for New Year's celebrations, where it is a centerpiece,[1] and in the Balkans and Turkey, Sufi Muslims make the dish during the month of Muharram in which the Day of Ashure takes place.[2] Traditionally, ashure is made in large quantities to commemorate the ark's landing and is distributed to friends, relatives, neighbors, colleagues, classmates, and others, without regard to the recipient's religion or belief system as an offering of peace and love.
History and traditions
In anecdotal history, it is claimed that when the ark came to rest on Mount Ararat, the family of Nuh or Noah celebrated with a special dish. Since their supplies were nearly exhausted, what was left (primarily grains, dried fruits and the like) was cooked together to form a pudding, what is now called ashure.[3]
Turkish families make ashure pudding to commemorate this event.[4] Ashure is distributed to the poor, as well as to neighbors, friends and relatives.[5] Evliya Çelebi says in his travelbook Seyahatname that "Ashure is a porridge (as) that should be cooked on the tenth of Muharram."[6]
In Armenia, ashure may be garnished with pomegranate seeds and flavored with rose water, and the pudding is shared with neighbors during the Christmas season. The festive pudding is the centerpiece of the New Year's table, which is often decorated with dried fruits, nuts and pomegranates.[1]
Ingredients
Ashure porridge does not have a single recipe, as recipes vary between regions and families.[7]
Traditionally, it is said to have at least seven ingredients. Some say at least ten ingredients must be used, in keeping with the theme of "tenth", while Alevis always use twelve. Among these are wheat, barley, rice, white beans, chickpeas, pekmez, date molasses, pomegranate molasses, beet juice, dried fruits like dates, raisins, currants, apricots, figs, apples and nuts like pistachios, almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pine nuts and sesame seeds. However, many renditions add orange, lemon and lime peel to add depth to the pudding. Anise seed, black cumin seeds, prunus mahaleb, pomegranate arils, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and allspice may be used as garnish, and some variations are flavored with anise liqueur, rose water and/or orange blossom water.
Etymology
The word Ashure comes from the Arabic word "Ashura" (Arabic: عَاشُوْرَاء ʿĀshūrāʾ ), meaning 'tenth'.[6]
