There is a legend about the origin of this dessert. It is as sweet as the dessert itself: When Noah’s ark came to rest on Mount Ararat in northeastern Turkey, they felt that a feast of celebration was called for. But their supplies were exhausted. However, they hunted through the ark and every little bit of food they could find, they put into the pudding and make themselves a splendid feast of asure. Therefore, sharing is in the spirit of asure - it is the symbol of unity among God’s creatures.
To commemorate that day, Muslims prepare Noah’s Pudding every year according to the Islamic calendar. The pudding is made by mixing dry beans and wheat together, and is then shared with neighbors and friends.
Sharing Noah’s pudding is a symbolic representation of the unity and essential relationship of humans to one another and to their Creator. People prepare the pudding at home and send a bowl to each of the neighbors in their neighborhood. As tradition goes the residents of forty houses to your east, west, north and south are considered neighbors. One has the responsibility of maintaining good relations with their neighbors regardless of what their religion or beliefs may be.
Noah’s pudding stands for the harmony of differences. Different ingredients come together, without losing their original taste, to serve a unique delight in Noah’s pudding. Likewise, we invite and encourage people from diverse cultural backgrounds to dialogue with each other, without losing their own cultural tastes.
Exact ingredients depend on the cook’s creativity. Some common ingredients are: Wheat, beans, garbanzo beans, raisins, rice, apple, coconut, dried apricots, sugar, walnuts, and cinnamon.
