Ashura, an Islamic tradition with the arrival of the month of Muharram; It starts on the 10th day of Muharram according to the Hijri Calendar as a symbol of abundance, abundance, unity and sharing. With the approach of the month of Ashura, questions such as What is Ashura and how is it made? or What are the ingredients for Ashura? In a nutshell, Ashura is a dessert made by combining a wide variety of legumes, nuts and sugar, and it is also a vegan food as it does not contain any animal food.

To this traditionally known recipe, we can also add the question of how to make salted aşure, which is made in villages. The only difference between the salty and the sweet is that while sugar is added to one, salt is added to the other. It can also be consumed as a meal by adding heavy foods such as meat with bones into the salty ashura. In short, Ashura is reflected in many different recipes among the people.

More than just a dessert, Ashura is a historical and cultural heritage. This flavor, especially shared with family and friends, has become a symbol of abundance and sharing. In this article, we, as Zirve Tahini, will discuss how to create a flavor by adding pastry sesame, which is among our sesame varieties, to your ashura, within the framework of the history and production of ashura.

What is the History and Story of Ashura?

It is known that the history of Ashura, an Islamic tradition, dates back to the great flood of the Prophet Noah. According to the story, when the waters receded after the flood, the survivors on the ship sitting on Mount Cudi experienced a shortage of food and brought together the last remaining ingredients on the ship. This recipe, prepared with the last remaining provisions on the ship, was called “Salvation Soup”. This term was later derived from the word “ashara” in Arabic culture and named ashura.

Prepared in the harsh conditions of the Prophet Noah's era, the soup kept the crew on board the ship full for a long time and ensured their survival. For this reason, Ashura has been in our culture from the past to the present as a symbol of abundance and sharing.

Cultural Context

Ashura has been accepted in many cultures and geographies, reflected in recipes in different ways. Starting from Mesopotamian culture, this dessert has been accepted in a wide region extending from the Middle East to the Balkans, and we see it most dominantly in Ottoman culture.

This flavor, which is prepared by enriching it with slightly different ingredients in many societies, has also helped shape the idea of unity in celebrations such as Christmas or holidays in different cultures. The common point in all these different traditions is that the feeling of sharing and togetherness has been made together and turned into a cultural tradition.

Ashura Day and its İmportance

Ashura Day has an important place in the Islamic world. Especially after the martyrdom of Prophet Hussein in the Karbala incident, Ashura was prepared and distributed by Muslims without adding any animal food in order to protest the violence. Therefore, the fact that Ashura was involved in this event has caused the culture of Ashura to be celebrated with care by both Shiite and Sunni communities and is usually commemorated with collective prayers and sharing activities. For Muslims, the day of Ashura is symbolized as one of the best examples of sharing and solidarity.

Is Sesame Put In the Ashura?

Yes, you can add Zirve Sesame seeds to your meals. However, if you are wondering which type of sesame is added to the ashura before doing this, mostly pastry sesame is preferred. Because pastry sesame has smaller grains than other sesame varieties and leaves a soft aroma taste in the mouth. How can I use sesame raw or roasted? if you are wondering, you can easily add it in your ashuras either way.

In addition to pulses such as chickpeas, dried beans, wheat, almonds, walnuts, nuts such as almonds and dried fruits such as dried apricots, dried figs are added to the ashura as materials. Since there is a time December and order of meeting of all these ingredients in the pot, when is sesame put into the Ashura? you might think. The answer to this question is that you can add the ashura 5 minutes before taking it off the January, or you can use it as an ornament on the ashura by roasting sesame paste in a frying pan.

Sesame Ashura Recipe, How to Make?

Ingredients

• 2 sb. wheat
• 1/2 sb. optional chickpeas, dried black-eyed peas or broad beans.
• 1/2 sb. dried beans
• 1 sb. seedless raisins, also known as sultanas.
• 7-9 chopped dried apricots
• 1 sb. chopped figs
• 3 sb. sugar
• 1 apple or quince
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

To decorate the top;

• 1 tea glass Zirve pastry sesame seeds
• 1 sb. hazelnut
• 1 sb. Walnut
• 1 sb. Almonds
• 10 dried apricots, dried figs

Preparation:

1. Preparation: Soak the wheat, chickpeas and dried beans in separate containers the night before.
2. Cooking: The next day, boil the wheat in a large pot with plenty of water and after it has softened a little, add the chickpeas and dried beans into the same pot and continue boiling this mixture for about 30 minutes until it is soft.
3. Adding Water: Chickpeas, dried beans and wheat ferment during boiling and reduce the water you add, so remember to add 4-5 cups of extra water during and after boiling.
4. Flavoring: Add the raisins, apricots and figs to the mixture and then add the sugar and cinnamon. Stir constantly so that the ingredients are well blended and harmonious together.
5. Presentation: Divide the hot soup evenly among the bowls and you can optionally add ingredients such as Zirve Pastry Sesame, almonds and hazelnuts to your plates to decorate the top. You can also roast the pastry sesame seeds in a pan to make the sesame flavor more dominant.

Experiences

Making Ashura is always a spiritual process. Zirve Sesame adds a new dimension to this recipe. On this day of unity and solidarity, it adds a different flavor to your recipes with its pastry sesame product. It makes you feel the crunch of sesame on each spoon and enables a traditional flavor to gain value by meeting in a modern texture. Those who taste the soup immediately notice the difference of sesame and welcome it with great appreciation.

Large-scale businesses, such as Horeca, which supplies wholesale sesame seeds for Zirve pastry, make this day meaningful by traditionally including ashura in their meals. The Horeca sector, whose guests include both Muslims and many different ethnic cultures, reflects this flavor in the best way by appealing to many audiences with its presentations.

Zirve's pastry sesame quality can also inspire other recipes in your kitchen. Beyond making Ashura, you can add new flavors to your kitchen by trying this sesame variety in salads, desserts and even bread making.

If you want to get more detailed information about pastry sesame and bring innovation to your recipes with a different touch, you can contact our sales support team and choose the most suitable product for your business.