Samanak

Samanak is a traditional sweet dessert paste prepared to celebrate the arrival of spring during the festival of Nowruz. It is widely prepared across Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia as part of the cultural festivities.

The dish is naturally sweetened by slow-cooking the extracted juice of newly germinated wheat sprouts. As the wheat sprouts grow, enzymes break down starches into sugars, which then caramelize during the long cooking process.

The traditional preparation of Samanak is a time-consuming process that requires constant stirring throughout the night to prevent the thick paste from burning. Women often gather around the cauldron to take turns stirring while singing traditional folk songs.

Once fully cooked down, Samanak has a thick, dark brown, paste-like consistency resembling a sweet spread. It is typically garnished with toppings like walnuts or almonds and eaten directly from a bowl.