How would you like to try a pudding that has two of almost everything in it? I'm talking about a Turkish dessert called Noah's Ark Pudding, or "asure" (aah-sure-AY').
"Asure" is famous for being packed with healthy ingredients. It contains everything sweet and wholesome like dried figs, apricots, raisins and currants, plus legumes like chick peas, lima beans and navy beans.
It's thickened with whole grain wheat or barley that's soaked and cooked until it becomes a thick pudding-like base. Add plenty of sugar, rose water or citrus zest and you have a dessert that fit for even special occassions.
In fact, Noah's Ark pudding is so packed with nutritious ingredients, a small bowl is filling enough to be a whole meal. Legend goes that Noah himself invented this pudding by trial and error while on the ark itself.
He and his passengers had been on the ark for many days. The rains had stopped and the waters were receding. Food stocks were running low.
Noah decided to put all the bits of foodstuffs that remained on the ark into one big pot. The result is history.
Differenet versions of "asure" are eaten all over the Middle East and the tradition spans many cultures and religions. Check out my new recipe for Turkish "asure" and learn to make one of the oldest desserts in recorded history.
Photo © Elizabeth Taviloglu, 2013