A sweet pudding of wheat berries, chickpeas, beans, dried fruits and nuts simmered together and crowned with pomegranate, walnuts and cinnamon. Known as Noah's pudding, it is shared with neighbours during Muharram.
An ancient grain-and-fruit pudding tied to the legend of Noah's Ark and eaten in the month of Muharram around the Day of Ashura.
Spoonably thick and lightly sweet, it is a mix of textures: chewy wheat, soft beans, plump dried fruit, and crunchy walnuts. Pomegranate adds a tart sparkle and cinnamon a warm, fragrant finish.
Long simmering gelatinises the wheat and bean starches, which thicken the liquid into a pudding as it cools and the starch retrogrades. Dried fruit rehydrates and lends natural sweetness, while the variety of grains, legumes and nuts gives the dish its hallmark mixed texture.
Variations
With barley or rice added; orange zest; dried beans varied; topped with pine nuts, currants or dried mulberries.
On the Palate
Where Aşure sits in the Turkish flavor cloud
Ingredients
Serves 8
How it's made
8 steps · 30 min
- 120 min
Soak the wheat berries, chickpeas and white beans separately overnight.
Watch outSoak the wheat, chickpeas and beans overnight — skimp on the soak and they stay hard no matter how long you simmer.
- 260 min
Boil each one until tender, then combine in a large pot with their liquid.
- 35 min
Stir in sugar and chopped dried figs, apricots and raisins.
- 430 min
Simmer gently, stirring often, until the mixture is thick and porridge-like.
Watch outStir often and cook until it drops off the spoon like thick porridge — it firms up more as it cools, so stop while it still pours.
- 53 min
Add rosewater or a little starch slurry if more body is needed.
- 65 min
Ladle the warm pudding into bowls and let it set as it cools.
Watch outLadle it warm into bowls and let it set undisturbed — the starch firms as it cools into that spoonable pudding.
- 75 min
Decorate the tops with pomegranate seeds, walnuts and cinnamon.
- 810 min
Chill briefly and serve, traditionally sharing extra bowls with neighbours.
