At the dawn of mankind, people ate only plants, fish and animal meat. They provided our ancestors with the vital amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. In those days, people did not particularly care about the taste of food, because the main property of food was its nutritional value. But today, taste is very important, and after eating soup or any other dish, many people move on to dessert. There are a lot of sweet foods, starting with ordinary sweets and ending with complex cakes. But when people started eating sweets, what can be considered the very first dessert in the world? Scientists have an answer to this question, and now we will talk about this topic.
Ashure is the very first dessert in the world. Images: IFL Science
The very first dessert in the world
Scientists believe that the very first sweet dish in the world appeared in the ancient Middle East. This is the name of the historical region, which was located on the territory of present-day Turkey, Armenia and Iraq. The exact year the first dessert appeared is unknown, but it happened between 6 thousand years ago and the 7th century AD. This is a very large gap, but it is impossible to narrow it down due to the small number of archaeological finds related to cooking.
The first sweet dish appeared in very ancient times, scientists cannot accurately determine the date. Image: photochronograph.ru
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How to prepare ashure
The first sweet in the history of mankind is a dish calledashure. Outwardly, it looks like porridge or very thick jelly, and there is no strictly defined recipe, because every nation prepares it in its own way.
Interesting fact:The name ashur comes from the Persian word “ashur”, which can be translated as “mixing”. Also in Turkish there is a word “Ash”, which means mixed porridge. The name of the dish is most correctly pronounced “ah-shu-ray”.
Ashure looks very appetizing, especially if prepared by a professional. Image: overone.ru
Traditionally, ashure is prepared with at least seven ingredients. Wheat, barley or rice are usually chosen as the base. Sugar, dates, pomegranates, dried fruits and nuts are also added to the porridge. The ingredients are mixed with water, and milk is rarely used – ashure is a dessert that does not contain animal products. So, vegetarians really like it.
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A popular dish in Turkey and Armenia
Ashure dish is also known as “Noah's porridge”. The fact is that in ancient times it was used only occasionally to celebrate the day of the mooring of Noah's Ark after the flood. If you want to refresh your memory and remember this legend, read the article “The Flood – a myth or a story based on real events?”
According to this legend, after the end of the flooding, the ark moored on Mount Ararat in Turkey. To celebrate this event, the righteous Noah and his family prepared ashureh from the ingredients left on the ship. Basically, his supplies consisted of grains, dried fruits, and so on.
The Ashure dish is directly related to the legend of Noah’s Ark. Image: thetimes.co.uk
In Turkey, the sweet paste is eaten on the day of Ashura, the tenth day of the Islamic calendar month of Muharram. Many families share the dish with their friends and relatives, and also give it to the poor. This dish also exists in the cuisine of many other nations – for example, it is eaten in Armenia and the Balkans. Again, it is worth noting that the recipe for ashur varies depending on the country.
The Armenian version of the dish is called anushapur, and is a fruit soup made from dried apricots. Typically, Armenians prepare it for Christmas and New Year's Eve – in many families it is an integral part of the New Year's table. And in Russia, as we know, not a single New Year’s table is complete without a bowl of Olivier.
Ashure is considered a high-calorie product. Image: za-edoy.ru
In many countries, sweet porridge can be ordered in cafes and restaurants. But usually it is not eaten to fill up. The main purpose of cooking Ashura is to unite people, regardless of religion. Ashure used to be eaten during the colder months because it was high in calories. But today you can eat it all year round – the main thing is to choose the ingredients to your taste.
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Sweets are very popular today because they taste good and can even improve your mood. But you shouldn’t eat them too often, because they cause people’s teeth to decay, gain excess weight, deteriorate their skin, and cause many other health problems. However, scientists have long been working on creating a sweetener that can make even candy healthy. So in the future the situation may change, at least a little.