Harees

Harees is a savory porridge made from cracked or coarsely ground wheat cooked together with meat, typically mutton or sometimes chicken, butter and spices, with a consistency ranging between a thick porridge and a thinner gruel. It originates in Armenia and the Arabian Peninsula and is widely prepared across the Arab world, especially in the Persian Gulf states during Ramadan, and by Shia Muslim communities in Iraq, Lebanon and Bahrain during Ashura, as well as in Armenia at Easter. In 2023 UNESCO inscribed the knowledge, skills and practices behind harees on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list, recognizing its preparation across Qatar, Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.