Aşure
As it turns out (i.e. according to the Internet), there is no definitive recipe for aşure but it's a popular Turkish dessert and involves grains pulses, dried fruits, spices and sugar all cooked together at a minimum, with extras that vary according to the cook. This one seemed to have wheat grains, rice, white beans and chickpeas with raisins and nuts, spices and sugar and was garnished with cinnamon and fresh pomegranate seeds.
There are lots of traditions surrounding this dessert but one of them is that when Noah's Ark came to rest on Mount Ararat, they celebrated by making a special meal out of what was left of their supplies - grains, dried pulses, dried fruit etc. The name aşure comes from the Arabic word for 'tenth' but its English name is Noah's Pudding. Apparently it can be made all year round but in Turkish tradition, it is especially linked to the Day of Aşure (which falls on the tenth day of the first month of the Islamic calendar), and which this year fell on 12th October. This day is celebrated by some people as a commemoration of the landing of Noah's Ark (but also various other events as well) and Turkish people often make lots of aşure and distribute it to their friends, relatives and neighbours.
If you've ever in Turkey and get the chance to try aşure, I'd definitely recommend giving it a go!
