Ashure Recipe

ashure

Description about Ashure

Ashure is a traditional sweet and salty mixture specific to Turkish cuisine. Usually prepared during the month of Muharram, ashure is cooked to commemorate the events that occurred at Kerbala, where the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, Hz. Hüseyin, was martyred. Therefore, ashure also represents feelings of solidarity, unity, and togetherness. Ashure, which contains various ingredients such as wheat, chickpeas, hazelnuts, dried grapes, apricots, and pomegranates, is prepared with different variations in different regions. Ashure is usually shared and eaten among families and can also be distributed among neighbors.

Ingredients of Ashure

For the Pudding:

  • 2 cups fine bulgur
  • ½ cup dry garbanzo beans
  • ½ cup dry white beans
  • ½ cup raisins
  • 15 cups water
  • 3 cups white sugar
  • ¼ cup dried apricots
  • ¼ cup orange peel, chopped
  • 5 whole cloves

For Garnish:

  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
  • 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
  • 2 tablespoons chopped pistachio nuts
  • 2 tablespoons dried currants
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Directions about Ashure recipe

  1. Make pudding: Place bulgur, garbanzo beans, white beans, and raisins in 4 separate bowls and add water to cover. Let stand overnight.
  2. The next day, combine garbanzo beans and white beans in a saucepan with water to cover. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until beans are tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Drain and set aside.
  3. Drain bulgur and transfer to a large saucepan. Add 15 cups water (3 quarts plus 3 cups) and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes, skimming and discarding any foam that appears.
  4. When bulgur has thickened, stir in sugar and bring mixture to a boil. Add cooked beans to bulgur mixture. Stir in drained raisins, apricots, orange peel, and cloves. Reduce heat and simmer until pudding thickens and fruit is tender, about 15 minutes.
  5. Pour pudding into individual serving bowls. Garnish with sesame seeds, walnuts, pistachios, currants, and cinnamon. Allow pudding to cool, then serve.