Those who grew up in families of Balkan origin, and Turkish Jews in particular, would fondly recall Ashure, (also known as Asure, Asura or Ashura` Trigo among Ladino speakers or Belila among Egyptians and Lebanese) a porridge based on grains of wheat that is soaked in water and then cooked for a long time with sugar, cinnamon, fruits, and nuts. In the Jewish communities, the porridge is prepared as a festive food, mainly for the ‘Tu BiShvat’ (the Jewish new year for trees that occurs on the 15th day of the Shvat month in the Jewish calendar), as well as to mark a baby’s first tooth.
However, not everyone knows that it has a distinguished history in other cultures and religions, as well. In general, sweetened wheat grains have been a popular dessert in the Mediterranean region since the days of the Greeks, and according to a Turkish legend, Asura was the first food prepared by Noah after the ark reached Mount Ararat (hence, its name in English: Noah’s Pudding). Muslims usually prepare it on the 10th day of the first month of the Muslim year (hence, its name for the number 10 in Arabic).
Some prepare Asura in particularly large quantities and give it to relatives and friends as a symbol of abundance and love.