I can claim that it tastes exactly like aşure (a Turkish dessert), but I can’t prove it. You’ll have to try it for me to prove it. 🙈

This is a much-loved dessert in our family; my aunt makes it (Auntie, may your ears be ringing ☺️). It’s something I always make, but this time, a tiny touch gave it an aşure-like taste. Honestly, I don’t know how it happened.

– I soak the figs in clean water in a shallow bowl for at least a day. This way, they release most of their flavor into the water and swell. Dried figs are too sweet for me to eat. I absolutely love them this way.

– I cut the swollen figs and place walnuts inside. Adding clotted cream is also recommended for those who like it 🤫 I didn’t throw away the water either. I’m keeping it in a jar in the fridge to make cookies 🙂

The spice mix I sprinkled on top is what changed the taste of aşure. I had a cake and pastry spice mix, so I decided to sprinkle that on top. Oh my god, it tasted amazing! It contains allspice, cinnamon, ginger, coconut, carob, and mahlep. I don’t know the exact proportions, but I know that when these ingredients combine, it creates an ashure-like effect 😀 Please make it 🥰 I also drizzled tahini on some of it. I love tahini too, but it masked the taste of the spices. Spicy, with tahini, without tahini, without spices – it’s legendary in every way.

Lots of love to everyone,

Sema Özpekmezci