asure—noah’s pudding

This classic Turkish dessert is said to have been the first thing Noah and his family prepared when they left the ark.

If you’re looking for the definitive, authentic recipe for asure, you should give up now—there are as many versions as there are cooks who make it. It can be as thin as a brothy soup or as thick as a pudding. It can be made with five ingredients or with as many as 40. But there are some constants that define the dish. It will always contain wheat, barley, and bulgar. There will be beans. There will be nuts and dried fruits. You will often find it flavored with rose water. There will usually be cinnamon sprinkled over the top.

What this means, is that in addition to being a sweet treat, it’s also a nutritious, protein-packed vegan dish.

Bear in mind that the grains and beans will need to be soaked overnight, so plan ahead.

Asure is generally served during the first month of the Islamic calendar, but it’s so delicious, I think it should be made all the time. Here’s my version.

Ingredients: