When we get to the Arabic month of Muharrem, in order to make Aşure (Noah's pudding) we normally have the wheat for that purpose in our kitchens. As I was thinking of what to cook as a main course, I picked up the book called Gurme Kent Gaziantep Kitchen. Adapting a recipe from that book to our house's taste and to my cooking style I ended up with this recipe I'm sharing.
Making the classic recipe of this meal called Keşkek needs too much of an effort. Keşkek was included in the Somut Olmayan Kültür Mirası(intangible cultural heritage) category in 2011 by UNESCO with "from preparation, presentation to consumption, stands to be important from the perspective of gender equality and sharing" rationale. The article called keşkek by Gonca Tokuz is highly detailed and informative.
ingredients
- 1 cup shelled wheat
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, chop
- 250 grams beef for stew, large dice
- 1 tsp red pepper paste
- water
- 1 cup beef broth (optional)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup chickpea, boiled
preparation
- Bring a cup of shelled wheat and a cup of water to boil the night before you plan to cook this dish. Remove from heat, put the lid on. Let it rest overnight.
- Heat olive oil over medium heat. Stir garlic in. Add meat, sauté stirring occasionally til all liquid released has evaporated.
- Mix in pepper paste.
- Add wheat, stir well to absorbe paste's color.
- Add water and broth to cover by 1/2 an inch (1 cm), sprinkle salt & pepper, stir. Cover, bring to boil. Reduce the heat, cook til wheat is soft. If all the water is evaporated before wheat is soft, you can add more water.
- Stir in the chickpea 5 min before the end of cooking.
- 1 çbk = 1 çorba kaşığı = 1 table spoon = 15 ml
- 1 tsp = 1 tatlı kaşığı = 1 tea spoon = 5 ml
- 1 cup ~ 1 su bardağı = 1 cup = 240 ml
- measurements
- ps: Can heat butter with crushed red pepper and drizzle on right before service.
- ps: If you don't have boiled chickpea, soak 1/2 cup chickpea the night before. Drain and add at step 4. Add water to cover by 1 1/2 inch (4 cm).
- ps: Can substitute lamb for beef.
EN 
TR