Haft Mewa (Seven Fruits) Recipe, One of the best traditional Afghan nut dishes

Preparing Haftsin (Haft-sin) and Haft Mewa tables is one of the special customs of Nowruz in Afghanistan, which we explain to you in the cookery magazine amazingly.

The history of preparing Haft Mewa goes back to the past; a long time ago, Afghan families started preparing “Haft Mewa” in the last days of March (in the Persian calendar, it means the last days of Esfand).

The people of Afghanistan and some areas of Tajikistan believe it was neither Haftsin (Seven edibles or goodies that start with the letter Sin) nor Haftshin (Seven edibles or goodies that start with the letter Shin), but Haftchin (Seven edibles or goodies that we can pick it from trees, etc.). Haftchin also means seven fruits picked from seven different trees and gathered on the table as a blessing for the house at the beginning of the new year.

Nowruz in Afghanistan is different from Iran in some ways, and unlike Iranian people, Afghans spend the new year outside their homes. They do not set a haft-sin table like the Iranians but carry a Haft mewa (seven-fruit) tray in the streets and places where people gather.

Seven types of dry fruits that are a part of people’s food during winter are part of this dish.

Considering that the season for picking fresh fruits is far away from the first day of the year, in the old days, the fruits on the New Year’s table were not fresh, and instead, they put dry fruits such as gooseberries, elderberries, raisins, figs, etc.

In this way, they wash the seven dry fruits and then leave a mixture of them overnight in a tank of water so that the juice of the seven fruits is combined.
On the morning of the first day of the new year, each family member drinks this water and eats its seeds with the wish of having a sweet and blessed year.

Ingredients for making Haft mewa (Seven Fruits):

Red raisins	½ a kilo
Green raisins	½ a kilo
Black raisins	½ a kilo
Gheysi (dried apricots)	1 kilo gram
Elderberry	200 to 250 grams
All kind of nuts which we use there	200 grams
Rose – water	As much as needed
Cardamom	As much as needed
Saffron	As much as needed

First, pour walnuts, almonds, pistachios, and all nuts into a suitable container and add water to it; let it boil for 2 minutes.

After boiling for 2 minutes:

• Drain the walnuts and other nuts.
• Put them in a container.
• Pour cold water over them. 

Remove the skin on them with a knife (you can easily remove the skin by hand).

In the same way, remove the skin from all the nuts.

In a Pyrex container or another suitable container, pour the bottom with walnuts, elderberries, and dried plums, and then it’s time to add raisins and almonds.

Then add pistachios and dried apricots, and at the end of the work, pour boiling water over them to cover the entire surface.

Cut the cardamom with the tip of a knife, add it to the rest of the ingredients, and put it in the container.

The mixture should be placed in a suitable environment for one night. Over time, you will see that all the ingredients have absorbed the water and puffed up a bit; Serve the seven fruits in the appropriate dishes and drink.

Note: Do not throw away the water you soaked the mixture and pour it into the containers with other contents.

Frequently asked questions about Haft mewa