Anoushabour Recipe; Make Armenian Christmas Pudding at Home

Anoushabour is a traditional dish from Armenia made from sweetened dried fruits and barley. It is typically served as a main course or as part of a meal. This recipe provides instructions on how to make Anoushabour in 5 simple steps. Stay with Cooking County.

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Anoushabour History

Anoushabour is a beloved traditional dessert served during Armenian Christmas celebrations. This traditional Armenian dish has a long history that dates back to the 13th century when it was first served at royal feasts throughout Armenia. The recipe was passed down from generation to generation and remains unchanged until today.

The classic Christmas pudding consists of raisins, nuts, dried fruits, honey, and spices such as cinnamon and cloves mixed in a thick paste. It is also customary for each family member to add their own special ingredients like lemon zest or orange peel, giving it a unique flavor every time it’s made.

How to Make Anoushabour?

Ingredients

8 cups water
2/3 cups honey (1 cup sugar)
1 cup apricots or other dried fruits such as peaches
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup pearled barley or white wheat berries
3/4 cup slivered almonds
2-3 tablespoons rosewater
1/2 cup chopped pistachios
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
Pomegranate seeds as needed

Directions

Step One

To make a delicious Anoushabour, take a suitable pot, combine wheat or barley with boiling water and stir well. Let the mixture boil for five minutes. Then, put the lid on the pot and let the mixture simmer for an hour.

Step Two

After one hour, turn off the heat and set the pot aside for 6 hours to thicken the soup. Preparing Anoushabour the night before is better to rest the wheat and water mixture overnight.

Step Three

Put a pot on low heat; add honey or sugar, dried fruit, and a cup of water. After a few minutes, stir the ingredients continuously until the water evaporates.

Step Four

Add pine nuts and pistachios to the ingredients, and simmer for another 15 minutes. Take the pot off the heat, let the mixture cool, and drain it.

Step Five

After 6 hours, add the sweetened fruits and nuts to the wheat and mix well. Then, add 2-3 tablespoons of rosewater. Pour the ingredients into the pot and cook over low heat for 15 minutes.

Note: Anoushabour should be thick. But if you cook it too much, it will be dry.

How to Serve Anoushabour?

Pour Anoushabour into a dish, garnish it with chopped hazelnuts, almonds, and pomegranate seeds and enjoy.

FAQs about Anoushabour

How long does it take to cook Anoushabour?

Assuming you are making Anoushabour from scratch, it will take approximately 8 hours to make this dish.

What is Anoushabour made of?

It is made with sweetened dried fruits such as apricots or peaches, white wheat, pistachios, and pine nuts, garnished with almonds, pomegranate seeds, and hazelnuts.