Ingredients

One cup of wheat (pearl barley or whole wheat grains); and 1/2 cups of chickpeas (soaked overnight), white beans (soaked overnight), rice, dry apricots (chopped), raisins (or currants), dry figs (chopped), dry white mulberries, walnuts (crashed), hazelnuts, almonds and pomegranate seeds. In addition, 1 cup sugar (or more, to taste), 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cloves, 1 teaspoon ground allspice and about 6 cups water (or more, as needed).

Preparation and Cooking

• Rinse the wheat, chickpeas, and white beans thoroughly, and soak them in separate bowls of water overnight. Then drain and rinse them.
• Using 6 cups of water, boil the wheat in a large (at least twice the size of all uncooked ingredients) saucepan with the lid on Area E of the oven for about 30 min (or until it is tender).
• Add the chickpeas and white beans to the saucepan and mix gently and cook for another 30 minutes. Add more water if necessary in this stage.
• In a separate bowl, soak the rice in hot water for 10 minutes, drain and add the rice to the saucepan and cook until the rice is tender.
• Add the dried fruits (apricots, raisins, figs, and mulberries) to the saucepan. cook for another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in the sugar and cook for 5 minutes, or until the sugar is completely dissolved. Adjust the sweetness to your preference by adding more sugar if necessary.
• Add the chopped nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds) to the mixture. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in the spices (cinnamon, cloves, and allspice) and cook for 2 more minutes.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the Aşure cool to room temperature. Then, transfer it to a large serving dish or individual bowls.
• Garnish the Aşure with pomegranate seeds, additional nuts, and a sprinkle of cinnamon before serving. Aşure can be enjoyed at room temperature or chilled.

Hints and Comments

• The popular narrative is that, during the Great Flood, when Noah’s Ark came to rest on Mount Ararat, in order to conserve resources, the remaining grains, fruits, and nuts are used to create a dish, which known as Noah’s Pudding.
• In the present day Turkiye, its ingredients vary between the religious sects from 12 to 30.