Samanu
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| Details | |
|---|---|
| Type | Dessert |
| Main ingredient(s) | Germinated wheat |
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This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2011) |
Samanū (Persian: سمنو), Samanak (Persian: سمنک), or Sumalak/Sumalyak (Tajik: сумалак; Uzbek: sumalak [sʉmælǽk]) or Sümölök (Kyrgyz: сүмөлөк [symœlœ́k]) is a sweet paste made entirely from germinated wheat (young wheatgrass), which is prepared for Nowruz (Persian new year celebrations) in a large pot (like a kazan) in Iran and some other countries. This practice has been linked to as far back as the Great Persian Empire.
The wheat is soaked and prepared for days and so the entire process takes up to a week. Traditionally, the final cooking would take from late in the evening till the daylight and was a party, involving only women. This would be full of laughter and music and singing related songs . In Tajikistan and Afghanistan they sing: Samanak dar Jūsh u mā Kafcha zanēm - Dīgarān dar Khwāb u mā Dafcha zanēm.[1][2][3] (meaning: "Samanak is boiling and we are stirring it, others are asleep and we are playing daf").
In modern times, making Samanu can be a family activity. Traditional Samanu is made entirely of germinated wheat and water (no other ingredients). Nowadays, it is common to add a bit of flour to speed up the thickening process, although this makes the paste taste somewhat bitter and less sweet.
A plate or bowl of Samanu is a traditional component of the Haft sin table.
References [edit]
External links [edit]
- Cooking Samanak in Tajikistan, rferlonline's channel on YouTube, March 21, 2009.
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