Noah's Dessert Holiday Recipe, Asure or Ashura

Traditional Turkish Food Recipe for New Year or Christmas Dinner

© Carla Marie Boulianne

Nov 29, 2008

Asure (also known as ashura, ashure, Noah's Dessert, or Noah's Pudding) is a regular Christmas tradition in some Turkish-American households. The porridge-like consistency and beautiful presentation of this mildly sweet fruit dessert consistently pleases. Tradition holds that asure is the meal Noah made from all the stored fruits and grains on the Ark after the Great Flood subsided. The multitude of ingredients symbolize gratitude and sharing of life’s bounty. Cook Noah’s Pudding dessert in large quantities and enjoy with loved ones, neighbors, and acquaintances this holiday season.

Noah’s Pudding Dessert Recipe

Don’t be deterred by the abundance of ingredients. The dish is simple to make with a bit of advanced planning. Asure is traditionally made with walnuts and barley in Istanbul; cooks in eastern Anatolia including Adana often use bulgur and pistachios.

Asure Ingredients

Beans and Grains

• 8 oz Coarse wheat bulgur (substitute barley for Istanbul version)
• 2 oz Dried cranberry beans, also called saluggia, barlotti, shell, or Roman beans (substitute Great Northern beans)
• 2 oz Dried Christmas lima bean; substitute regular lima beans
• 2 oz Dried chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans (substitute canned version)
• 2 oz Western Family Blue Rose rice or other preferably short-grain variety

Fruits

• 4 oz Dried, chopped unsulfured apricots
• 4 oz Large golden raisins (substitute standard raisins for all or half)
• 2 oz Currants
• 2 oz Dried, chopped cherries (optional)

Other Ingredients

• 1 lb Sugar
• 2 tbsp Corn flour (substitute rice flour) to thicken
• 4 oz Rose water (optional)

For Ashura Garnish

• 2 oz Diced dried figs
• 2 oz Chopped walnuts (substitute pistachios)
• 1 Tb Pine nuts
• 1 Tb Currants
• 1 Tb Pomegranate seeds (optional)

Method

1. Combine all dried beans, bulgur (or barley), and chickpeas.
2. Cover with water in large saucepan with room for water at least 1/3 volume above beans.
3. In the morning, add rice and bring to a boil over medium heat adding additional water when necessary. Substitute milk for creamier version.
4. Simmer ten to fifteen minutes.
5. While heating beans, rice, and bulgur mixture: soak apricots, raisins, and currants in water in hot water for five minutes and then drain.
6. Add soaked fruits to cooking porridge and cook another ten minutes or until fruit and beans soften (add chickpeas now if using canned variety).
7. Slowly add sugar while stirring.
8. Add a few teaspoons of warm water to cornmeal, stir to dissolve, and then add to asure.
9. Bring to slow boil and then remove from heat.
10. Stir in rose water and garnish.
11. Serve warm or chilled.

Add Noah’s Dessert to Your Favorite Christmas Food Recipes

While the ingredients of Noah’s Pudding sound a bit unusual, don’t hesitate to try this delicious holiday recipe. One wonderful aspect of asure is a forgiving flexibility when substituting ingredients. If you have a different dried fruit or mild bean in your cupboard, add it to the mix of grains, fruits, and legumes. Toss in dried cranberries, hazelnuts, or pecans, or your favorite addition from the bulk section of the grocery store in the spirit of Noah’s first meal off the Ark.

Preparation time: 15-30 minutes (chopping)

Soaking time: Overnight

Cooking time: 30 minutes to 1 hour

Serves: More than 10 people

Storage: 3-5 days refrigerated

For Carla Boulianne's quick and easy American adaptation of Turkish sarmisakli kofte, please read "Best Gnocchi Recipe With Tomato Garlic Sauce".

Christmas Dessert Filled With Nuts and Dried Fruit

Select Unsulphured Apricots for Best Ashura Taste

Mixed Nuts Add Interest to Holiday Dessert Recipe

Use Course Bulgur or Barley for Asure

Ashura (Ashure, Asure)

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