You too can taste a pudding similar to what might have been concocted on Noah’s Ark thousands of years ago. The ark was made, according to believers, to save people and animals from an overwhelming flood. As supplies dwindled, Noah is said to have gathered everyone together and mixed all remaining food into this delicious pudding.
Ingredients:
250 ml (1 cup) coarse wheat bulgur
250 (1 cup) dried white kidney beans
250 (1 cup) dried chickpeas
250 (l cup) raisins
250 (1 cup) almonds
250 ml (1 cup) dried apricots, chopped into small pieces
1.1 kg (5 1/2 cups) sugar
1.25 L (5 cups) water (enough to cover ingredients)
Topping:
Crumbled walnuts and cinnamon to taste.
Soak wheat, beans, chickpeas, and almonds in water overnight. Boil ingredients and remove their outer shells or skin. Then soak raisins in boiling water until they soften.
Put all ingredients, except almonds, apricots and sugar, in a large pot and bring to a boil. Combine almonds and apricots and add to the mixture, along with the sugar. Boil for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently.
Serve to friends and neighbours as Muslims do after Ashura, a day of fasting. This recipe, which comes courtesy of the Canadian Institute of Interfaith Dialogue, makes approximately 30 servings
Susan Hallett is an award-winning writer and editor who has written for The Beaver, The Globe & Mail, Wine Tidings and Doctor’s Review among many others. Email: hallett_susan@hotmail.com
