Dish of Multi-Culturalism

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One brought a handful of wheat, another a handful of dried grapes, another a handful of almonds...

The first meal cooked on the earth

When Noah's ark landed on Mount Ararat (Turkish: Agri Dagi) which is located in the northeastern Turkey and the tallest peak in Turkey, there was a great joy and the joy of continuing life. With these, Noah cooked a dish containing seven different grains. So they satisfied their hunger with the abundance of Prophets. And the believers offered thanks to God.

After the flood, this was the first meal cooked on the earth, so it became customary to eat this thanksgiving dish on the Day of Asure.

Since then we cook this sweet dish, called in Turkish Asure -pronounced Ash-ur-e (English: Noah's Pudding) every year this time in remembrance of what Noah and his people went through mixing all of the dried beans and wheat they can find to make this pudding.

Pretty lovely Asure-table settings

Asure is not only a dish, but has got very important meanings itself. It is:

~the opportunity to show gratefulness. One who can show gratefulness is aware of existence and the whole life. The Asure bowl symbolizes this awareness, wellbeing, goodwill and sharing.

~the symbol of abundance. The Asure spoon represents the joy of sharing and enjoying the gifts of life and plenty.

~the ability to forgive that is essential part of tolerance and lasting peace.

~the common taste of friendship and brotherhood.

~the common symbol of the monotheistic religions, identities and languages of the world.

Delicious Asure-servings for everyone!

Back to the Ark...

Those on the Ark prepared a delicacy with what was left on the Ark. There were grains, dried fruits, pulses, almonds and apricots which were cooked with sugar. Each of the parts preserves its individual taste and together enrich one another to create a yet more delicious whole, just like Asure, as photographed above. So Asure symbolizes the relationship between ''The parts and The Whole'' which is a fundamental element of the concept of conciliation.

While it embodies a message of sharing life with all living creatures together in harmony, on the other hand expresses a consequence of peaceful coexistence by the pomegranates decorated on the topping as below:

Time for gratefulness, goodwill and sharing

In the Ottoman Empire period, Asure was cooked and distributed to neighbours and the poor. For centuries the Ottoman Palace followed this tradition, so did we. And Asure cooked at the Palace was the most famous of all. The original recipe for the Asure was prepared in 1870 by Pertevniyal Sultan.

The numerous ingredients of Asure are brought together in a cauldron where they are blended to create this dish symbolising abundance and fertility. Because cauldron is the place where good intentions take tangible form, so itself presents life and coexistence.

After it's prepared in large cauldrons, we definitely share firstly with poor and neighbors, then friends and family. As tradition goes the residents of forty houses to your house east, west, north and south are considered neighbors regardless of what their religion or beliefs may be.

All in all, a Asure bowl is inscribed with expressions wishing a good appetite for Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian, Abkhaz, Persian, Arabian, Albanian, Azeri, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Circassian, Assyrian, Jewish, Khyrgyz, Uzbek, Tatar and Greek, so presenting our multi-culturalism and peaceful coexistence.

As Asure reminds me that tolerance, unselfishness, gratitude and coexistence are essential for a sustainable and abundant future, I hardly wait the Day of Asure every, every, every year with an impatient heart! As far as its cooking, not so easy cooking dish -at least for me. I can say that it requires some mastering. Just does take seriously patience and also time.

Last weekend it was different from the flow of my days recently. Oh, how much I enjoyed having a Mama made Asure:) I helped her when preparing the bowls as well as taking photos of this moment for you at her house:)

In the end of day, I kindly gave my gratefulness to her. It was so delicious, so unforgettable taste left in my mouth until next year's Asure time. Me? I did not forget to pocket more 2-bowls only for me when she was out of house for distributing twelve-bowlful Asures for the neighbors:)

Would you please join me for the Asure prayer:

''May our fast of thanksgiving be accepted; the light and labours of Asure are a service to God, the friend of abundance, with the submission of all courageous souls. May our Asure and other food be accepted, and be righteous for all of us gathered here. With the guiding light may four doors, four torches and the fourty souls be enduring. May the abundance of the rich eye and heart be showered upon those who deserve the Asure, those who recognise the share of the Prophet Noah, and all the members of our community. May their ancestors rest in peace, may their homes be happy, prosperous and united.''

It's one of Turkey's most famous deserts, not only delicious but also a historical tradition and a perfect recipe for a harmonious society, just like Turkey.

Happy Asure-making
and
the Day of Asure-celebrating:)