Ashura/ Aşure / Noah's Pudding

12.18.2010
Click here and here to see the winner Asure of the "Best Asure competition"!

This was chosen as the best Ashura at a local competition. The judges were diverse : Turkish, American and Peruvian  :) So this means this Ashura has an internationally proven taste:)

I should mention that I am not a picky cook, the amount of the ingredients are subject to change ( I don't even remember for some of them how much I added.) Actually for ashura, in general there is no unique way and ingredient list to cook but major ones: wheat, beans, raisins ( I don't like it so skipped) apricots and of course sugar!
Enjoy!

Ingredients:

This would yield ~40 cups

1 cup wheat (I used a little more than that)

1 cup rice (precooked)
1 cup chick peas ( I used canned )
1 cup navy  & northern beans ( I used canned) )
1 packet ~ 100 gr of dried apricots (Turkish ones are the best! You can find in many American grocery stores as well) ( diced into small pieces and stayed in water to make it softer)

Figs ( diced into small pieces and stayed in water to make it softer)

Poppy seed

Sesame ( at least 2 full teaspoons, i cooked them)

Black seeds

1 table spoon butter

1cup milk

1 table spoon honey

1 pinch salt

1 orange peel, (diced into cubes and boiled in water, discard the water, it has a bitter taste)

Half lemon zest

~5 cups sugar

Other options  may be but not limited to:
Almonds, peanuts, apple,orange, pear, raisins, prune, any dry or or fresh fruit  as desired

Clove, rose water for the flavor

Topping: 

walnuts, pistachios , peanuts, sesame, coconut, almonds, pomegranate 

Also cinnamon, hazelnuts

How to prepare Asure / Ashura/ Noah's Pudding?

One night before: 

(Soak wheat  in water before if possible)

Boil wheat in a big pan with 5 cups of water for about 10 minutes and turn the heat. It will adsorb the water and get soften in the morning

The day you cook:Add ~4 cups of water to the precooked wheat and let it boil. 

*At each step stir continuously ,don't let the bottom stick Add chickpeas, dry beans and precooked rice. 

Add dry fruits.

Add seeds.Add milk

Add salt and sugar and boil for additional 10-15 minutes.
Serve with toppings, decorate and enjoy!

It will get thicker as it cools down so you may add boiled water as needed while cooking.*You can add more/less water/ sugar depending on your preference.
Afiyet Olsun, Good Appetite!