Aşure, often called Noah's pudding, is one of the oldest dishes in Turkish cooking: a sweet, porridge-like dessert of grains, pulses and dried fruit that traditionally takes days to prepare from scratch. This Dr. Oetker mix puts the main components in one 222 g sachet: wheat paste, pre-cooked beans, chickpeas and rice, dried apricot, raisins and orange peel, with sugar, starch and a touch of cinnamon.
The manufacturer's directions are simple. Pour 750 ml of water into a pot, add the whole sachet and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Once it starts to boil, lower the heat and let it simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring now and then, then take it off the heat and let it cool for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Ladle it into bowls, leave it for about 5 minutes more, then decorate and serve warm or cold. According to the manufacturer, the mix can be prepared with either water or milk.
Aşure is traditionally garnished with walnuts, hazelnuts, pomegranate seeds or a dusting of cinnamon, and in Turkey it is shared with family and neighbours, especially during the month of Muharram. Please note that it contains wheat. Keep the sachet in a cool, dry place until you are ready to cook.
