How to Make Ashura & What to Add? Perfect Recipe, Tips and Ingredients
The month of Muharram, which is the first month of the Islamic calendar and known for its abundance, brought its bounty to our kitchens in 2026 as well. As the calendar pages showed Thursday, June 25, 2026, which is exactly the Day of Ashura, that familiar sweet hustle and bustle had already begun in homes all over Anatolia.
On these special days with high spiritual value, everyone who wants to bring abundance to their home and distribute ashura to their loved ones with prayers is looking for the same answer: How to make a traditional ashura that won't darken its water, has the perfect consistency, and will have the neighbors asking for the recipe? So, what ingredients are put into ashura? What are the ingredients for ashura?
Here are the secrets of making the most delicious ashura and a step-by-step ashura recipe:
Classic and Delicious Ashura Ingredients
The ingredients that can be put into Ashura can range from 7 to 41 types. This number can vary from region to region and can also be shaped according to taste. The essentials of Ashura, which usually uses 12 to 20 types of ingredients, are: wheat, chickpeas, dried beans, sugar, cinnamon, dried fruits, dried nuts used for decoration, and pomegranate. You can also add orange or lemon peel to the recipe if you wish.
Ingredients Used in Making Ashura:
3 cups of wheat for Ashura
1 cup of dried beans
1 cup of chickpeas
1 cup of dried apricots
1 cup of raisins
1 cup of hazelnuts
3 liters of water (for boiling the wheat)
4 cups of powdered sugar
Approximately 4 liters of boiling water (to be used when necessary to adjust the consistency)
4-5 cloves
A pinch of salt
Ingredients Placed on Top of Ashura:
100 grams of walnuts
25 grams of hazelnuts
25 grams of currants
Cinnamon
Sesame
Pomegranate (optional)
Each ingredient you choose enriches the taste and appearance of Ashura. Especially pomegranate, which is a traditional ingredient to be added on top of Ashura, adds a slightly sour-sweet delicious flavor to Ashura.
Traditional and Delicious Ashura Recipe
The process of making Ashura starts the night before. Beans, chickpeas, and wheat are soaked in advance. The next day, these ingredients are cooked separately until slightly softened. (Care should be taken to ensure that these ingredients do not disintegrate and are soft enough.)
Let's come to the combination of all flavors:
After the soaking water of the wheat is drained, it is taken into a large Ashura pot by adding clean drinking water and cooked for about 50 minutes. (It is expected that the wheat will darken its water and release its essence).
After this process, chickpeas and beans that have been boiled and drained beforehand, along with chopped apricots and grapes, are added and cooked for another 15 minutes.
In the next stage, sugar, salt, hazelnuts, and cloves are added and boiled for another 15 minutes. You can wrap the cloves in a clean cheesecloth and throw them into the pot in this way to easily remove them after the Ashura is cooked.
You may need to add hot water from time to time to adjust the consistency of the Ashura. Therefore, it is important to always have boiling water nearby while cooking Ashura.
Ashura is taken off the stove and left to cool when it reaches its consistency (when it comes to a slight boza/pudding consistency).
After being taken into bowls, it can be garnished with hazelnuts, walnuts, pomegranate, cinnamon, and currants. Adding dried mulberries, sesame, and figs to the top of the Ashura will also enhance its flavor and visual appeal.
What are the Key Points in Making Ashura?
There are some points to consider in the preparation of Ashura, a traditional delicacy:
Pot Selection: The size of the pot you will use is very important. You should prefer a wide and shallow pot to mix the ingredients homogeneously without crushing them.
For Clear and Light-Colored Ashura: You should wash the wheat at least 34 times with plenty of water before cooking. Also, ingredients like figs and walnuts will instantly darken the water of the Ashura if added to the pot. You should only add these ingredients on top for decoration at the serving stage.
Preparation of Ingredients: You must soak legumes such as chickpeas, beans, and cracked wheat overnight. Otherwise, they will not cook at the same time and proportionally with the other ingredients.
Consistency Test: Ashura cooks in approximately 2 hours. To understand if it is fully cooked, you need to check its consistency. Remember that Ashura is a dessert that thickens and jellifies as it cools, so it is normal for it to appear slightly watery when you take it off the stove.
The Origin of Ashura: Why is Ashura Made? Which Cuisine Does it Belong to?
Ashura is a dessert made and distributed in the Islamic world, especially on the 10th day of Muharram. This special day is referred to as 'Ashura Day' and is generally associated with Noah's Ark. According to legends, the meal prepared with the last ingredients left on the ship after the great flood forms the first version of today's ashura. This situation gives birth to the idea that ashura represents solidarity and sharing.
Ashura Day is also the anniversary of the event of Kerbela, where Imam Hussein was martyred by the army of Yazid. In the Shiite Islamic tradition, this situation is considered a day of mourning. However, ashura is not a mourning meal in this tradition. Fasting can be observed on Ashura Day, mourning can be shown, and ashura distribution can be made in some places.
The Ancient History of Ashura
The origin of ashura cannot be attributed only to Islam. It is known that such mixed grain dishes were also found in the ancient agricultural societies of the Middle East. In ancient Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and the Levant region, there were ceremonies where meals made with grain and legume mixtures after the harvest were offered to the gods. It was believed that these meals increased fertility.
In the Jewish tradition, something sweet is eaten when breaking the fast after Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). This tradition has been interpreted in some regions as mixtures similar to 'Noah's dessert'. Especially in Sephardic Jewish cuisines, there are desserts similar to ashura.
So, What is the Origin of the Word Ashura?
The word ashura is derived from the Arabic word 'ashara' and means 'ten'. This refers to the 10th day of Muharram. However, some sources suggest that the origin of this word may date back much further, to Akkadian or Sumerian.
Ashura is seen not only in Turkey but also in Iran as “Noah’s Pudding”, in the Balkans as “Haşure”, in Armenian cuisine as “Anoushabour” (Sweet soup), and in Lebanon and Syria with desserts similar to “amhiye”.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Ashura
We have compiled the most common questions that may arise in your mind about Ashura preparation, storage conditions, and key points, along with their practical answers:
When is the Day of Ashura in 2026?
According to the Hijri calendar calculations, the Day of Ashura in 2026 falls on Thursday, June 25. The distribution of Ashura usually begins on this date and continues until the end of Muharram.
Why Does Ashura Darken?
The most common reason for the darkening of Ashura is the addition of ingredients like figs and walnuts to the pot while Ashura is still boiling on the stove. These nuts give their color to the boiling water, darkening the dessert. Also, if Ashura is left open to the air while it is hot after cooking, it can darken as a result of oxidation.
Is Milk Added to Ashura?
Yes, it can be added optionally. Although it is not very common in traditional recipes, there are those who add a small amount (about 1 teacup) of hot milk during the boiling stage to make the color of Ashura lighter and whiter.
Can Ashura Be Put in the Freezer?
Yes, you can store your leftover Ashura in airtight containers in the freezer. When you want to consume it, you just need to take it out and let it thaw naturally at room temperature.
Why is Ashura Distributed to Neighbors?
The fundamental philosophy of Ashura is unity, solidarity, sharing, and abundance. It is inspired by the last provisions of the people on Noah's Ark being combined and cooked in a single pot and shared. For this reason, the prepared Ashura is not only shared with the household; it is also shared with neighbors, relatives, and friends to keep this bond of abundance and brotherhood alive.
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