flipAshishah — Pressed Cake of Raisins, Figs, and Almonds
Ashishah — Pressed Cake of Raisins, Figs, and Almonds
Why this dish? The ashishah, a cake of raisins, is mentioned several times in the Bible — notably in the Song of Songs attributed to Solomon: "Sustain me with raisin cakes… for I am sick with love." It is the quintessential sweet comfort in the Solomonic world, given to the weak and the languishing heart.
A dense, sticky bar of crushed raisins, figs, and dates, bound with honey and studded with chopped almonds. Pure energy, keeps well and can be eaten on the road or by the bedside of the sick.
Come close to me, for the heart sometimes fails without known cause. When the soul languishes, sustain it with raisin cakes — so says the poem I have sung. Crush together the raisin and the fig, bind them with the honey of bees, press them firmly between your hands, and throw in almonds for crunch. Keep some in your pouch: this little bread of sweetness will accompany you more faithfully than many friends.
- •Raisins — a large portion (sweet base)
- •Dried figs — a portion (moist binder)
- •Dates — a few (sweetness and stickiness)
- •Honey — a drizzle (binder)
- •Almonds — a handful (crunch)
- •Cinnamon — a pinch (spice from Sheba)
Ashishah — Pressed Cake of Raisins, Figs, and Almonds
A dense, sticky bar of crushed raisins, figs, and dates, bound with honey and studded with chopped almonds. Pure energy, keeps well and can be eaten on the road or by the bedside of the sick.
Why this dish? The ashishah, a cake of raisins, is mentioned several times in the Bible — notably in the Song of Songs attributed to Solomon: "Sustain me with raisin cakes… for I am sick with love." It is the quintessential sweet comfort in the Solomonic world, given to the weak and the languishing heart.
Come close to me, for the heart sometimes fails without known cause. When the soul languishes, sustain it with raisin cakes — so says the poem I have sung. Crush together the raisin and the fig, bind them with the honey of bees, press them firmly between your hands, and throw in almonds for crunch. Keep some in your pouch: this little bread of sweetness will accompany you more faithfully than many friends.
Ingredients (period version)
- Raisins — a large portion (sweet base)
- Dried figs — a portion (moist binder)
- Dates — a few (sweetness and stickiness)
- Honey — a drizzle (binder)
- Almonds — a handful (crunch)
- Cinnamon — a pinch (spice from Sheba)
Ingredients
- Raisins — 200 g (sweet base)
- Dried figs — 150 g (moist binder)
- Pitted dates — 100 g (sweetness and stickiness)
- Honey — 2 tbsp (binder)
- Blanched almonds — 80 g (crunch)
- Cinnamon — 1/2 tsp (spice)
Method
- Lightly toast the almonds dry, then roughly chop them.
- Blend raisins, figs, and dates until a thick, sticky paste forms.
- Mix in honey, cinnamon, and almonds by hand.
- Firmly press the paste into a frame or on a sheet, about 2 cm thick.
- Let dry in the air for a few hours, then cut into bars or diamonds.
- Store wrapped: keeps for several weeks.
How it was made : Sun-dried raisins were pressed into compact cakes to preserve them out of season and for transport. Rich in sugar, they served as travel provisions, gifts (Abigail offered them to David), and fortifiers for the sick and travelers.
The contemporary twist : Rolled into small balls and coated in sesame seeds: Iron Age "energy balls," perfect for hiking.
Solomon · Charactorium
