Harees

Harees

Alternative names	Jareesh, Hareesa, Arizah
Type	Porridge
Place of origin	Arabian Peninsula, Levant
Main ingredients	Wheat, butter, and meat (usually chicken)

Harees or Jareesh (Arabic: هريس‎‎) is an Arab dish of boiled, cracked, or coarsely-ground wheat, mixed with meat. Its consistency varies between a porridge and a dumpling. Harees is a popular dish known in the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, especially in the month of Ramadan.

Harees (Arabic: هريس‎‎) is derived from the verb (Arabic: هَرَسَ‎, translit. Harasa‎) which means to mash or to squash.

Harees is documented in Ibn Sayyar al-Warraq's 10th-century cookbook Kitab Al Tabikh., as well as in al-Baghdadi's 13th-century cookbook Kitab Al Tabikh and ibn Razin al-Tujibi's 13th-century Andalusian cookbook Kitab Fadalat al-khiwan fi tayyibat al-ta'am w'al-alwan.

Harees is also the origin of Haleem which was thought to have been enjoyed by the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.

The wheat is soaked overnight, then simmered in water along with meat and butter or sheep tail fat. Any remaining liquid is strained and the mixture is beaten and seasoned. Harees may be garnished with cinnamon, sugar, and clarified butter.

There is a different traditional way of preparing Harees in each of the Arab countries in the Persian Gulf area, and among the tribes of these countries. But there is a difference very simple that is optional in some countries. For example, in Saudi Arabia, cardamom pods (Hill or Cardamom) are added. Also it is decorated with parsley.

Harees was only made by the wealthy during Ramadan and Eid, for the duration of a three- to seven-day wedding. It was, however, customary for the Harees dishes to be shared with poorer neighbours on such occasions.

...
Wikipedia