Ashura Food

ASHURE

Steps:

• The day before, wash and separately soak the whole grain wheat (or barley), chickpeas, and white beans in 3 times their volume of water for 12 hours.
• The next day, wash the raisins and boil for 3 minutes in a large amount of water. Drain.
• Wash the figs and boil them for 3 minutes in a large amount of water. Drain.
• Once the figs are cool, cut them into small cubes.
• Wash the apricots and immerse them in water at room temperature for 30 minutes. Drain the apricots and reserve their soaking water. Cut them into small dice.
• Place the almonds in a bowl filled with boiling water for 15 minutes. Peel them and reserve them.
• Pierce the apple with cloves.
• Fill 2 pots with water and cook the chickpeas and white beans separately according to instructions on the package.
• In a large pot, immerse the whole grain wheat (or barley) in 6 cups (1 liter) of water and cook according to the package instructions. Add water if necessary.
• Halfway through cooking the wheat, add the apple pierced with cloves, and the cinnamon stick.
• Continue cooking until the wheat is very tender, almost like porridge.
• Once the chickpeas are cooked, remove their skin.
• Toward the end of cooking the wheat, remove the apple and add the chickpeas, white beans, almonds, raisins, dried apricots and their reserved soaking water, salt, sugar (or honey) and milk.
• Mix well and simmer for another 10 minutes.
• At the end of the cooking, add the diced figs.
• Transfer the pudding into cups.
• Cool down and top with the garnishing ingredients.
• Refrigerate to serve cold, or cool down to room temperature to serve lukewarm.

ASHURE

Steps:

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

ASHURE CEREAL

Steps:

• Adjust oven racks to lower-middle and upper-middle positions. Heat to 350. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, and set aside.
• Combine oil, honey and sugar in a medium saucepan, and set over medium-high heat. Whisk well, and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
• In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredients, and mix well. Once the honey mixture comes to a boil, carefully pour it over the dry ingredients. Working quickly, use a large silicone spatula to stir, turning the contents of the bowl over until everything is coated evenly with the syrup. Transfer mixture to baking sheets, and use spatula to flatten out cereal into an even layer.
• Place baking sheets on prepared oven racks, and bake for 10 minutes. Carefully remove 1 tray at a time, and use spatula to stir cereal around. Rotate trays 180 degrees, and switch oven positions to ensure even baking. Bake for 4 to 6 minutes longer, until golden brown and well caramelized. Remove from oven, and allow to cool entirely on the trays before breaking cereal into large clusters.
• Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

WHOLE WHEAT PUDDING (EGYPTIAN ASHORA)

Steps:

• boil the wheat grains in the water , then leave it overnight to cool down, so that the grains can absorb all the water they need to open up.
• add the milk, whipping cream, sugar, vanilla and heat up till sugar dissolves completely, you can taste some to determine if it is sweet enough.
• dissolve the starch in 1/2 cup of cold milk then add to the heating mixture, boil altogether.
• pour into your serving cups and leave to cool, you can serve them as soon as they are just warm, not hot, or you can cool them in the fridge for couple of hours before serving.
• it is great as it is, but if you like you can put some toasted almond flakes, hazelnut, shreded coconut, or simply sprinkle some cinnamon.