Haft Mewa — Print Recipe — The Culinary Codex

A refreshing cold compote of seven dried fruits and nuts soaked in water until plump and sweet, served as a traditional Nowruz treat. This symbolic Afghan dessert represents renewal and the sweetness of the coming year.

Ingredients

1/2 cup dried apricots
1/2 cup raisins (golden and dark mixed)
1/2 cup dried figs
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup pistachios
1/2 cup senjed (oleaster fruit) or dried jujube
1/2 cup almonds
6 cups water
2 tbsp rose water
Sugar to taste (optional)

Instructions

1 Combine all seven dried fruits and nuts in a large bowl or glass jar. Use a traditional mix of apricots, raisins, figs, walnuts, pistachios, senjed, and almonds.
2 Pour 6 cups of cold water over the fruit and nut mixture. Ensure everything is fully submerged.
3 Cover and let soak overnight or for at least 12 hours. The fruits will plump and release their natural sweetness into the water.
4 Add rose water and stir gently. Taste and add a little sugar only if needed — the natural fruit sweetness is usually sufficient.
5 Refrigerate until cold. The soaking liquid becomes a sweet, fragrant fruit syrup.
6 Serve cold in small glasses or bowls, making sure each serving has a mix of all seven fruits and nuts.

Did You Know?

The number seven is sacred in Afghan culture — haft mewa's seven fruits symbolize the seven days of creation and the seven items on the Nowruz haft seen table.