Hrisseh facts for kids

Hrisseh is a special Lebanese dish, a bit like a thick porridge. It's mostly made from wheat and lamb meat. People usually cook it for two important religious celebrations in Lebanon. The Shiaa Lebanese community makes it to celebrate the end of Ashoura. Christian communities in Lebanon prepare it for the Assumption Day of the Virgin Mary.

Christian Celebrations

Bhamdoun Village Tradition

For Christians, Hrisseh is the main dish for Assumption Day of the Virgin Mary. This day is also called "Eid el Saydeh." Preparations begin early on August 14th, the day before Assumption Day.

In the village of Bhamdoun, about 23 kilometers from Beirut, many people are Maronite and Orthodox Christians. Men and women from the village gather outside Saint Georges church. They start building a large open fire. This fire will heat three huge cooking pots. Wood and coal keep the fire burning all night. This ensures all the ingredients mix well.

The recipe for this big event needs about 800 kilograms of lamb meat, water, and wheat. The celebrations and food tasting usually start late in the evening. The celebration includes an evening mass at Saint Georges church. There are also religious and art exhibitions, parades, and fireworks. Food stalls offer other treats. Finally, the Hrisseh is given out to everyone.

A Story from History

The exact history of Hrisseh is not fully known. But a story says that in the 19th century, around 1851, a terrible sickness hit Bhamdoun village.

At the same time, in Marjayoun, a nearby village, people saw Saint Mary. Saint Mary told them to take an old religious picture to the main church in Bhamdoun. It is said that after the picture was placed in the church, the sickness disappeared.

A few months later, the villagers decided to take the picture back to its original village. But once they did, another sickness spread in Bhamdoun. So, they had to bring the picture back. Since then, every year on August 15th, people cook Hrisseh. They celebrate to honor and thank Saint Mary for saving them from the sickness.

Hrisseh Recipe

The main ingredients for Hrisseh are:

• 500g hulled wheat
• 1 kg cubed lamb meat (from shanks)
• 500g - 1 kg lamb bones (use less for a lighter dish)
• ½ tsp peppercorns
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Sea salt

How to Cook Hrisseh

The way Hrisseh is made can be a little different in various regions. But generally, it's made from lamb meat, lamb bones, wheat, and water.

All these ingredients are heated in large pots until they boil. It's important to keep stirring the mixture constantly while it's hot. Before adding the wheat, you should lower the temperature. This stops the wheat from clumping together.

Hrisseh needs to cook for more than five hours. This long cooking time makes sure the dish becomes thick and balanced. When the meat is cooked, it will be very soft and stretchy. The last step is to add salt. The hot Hrisseh is usually served right away in warm bowls. It often comes with a traditional Lebanese sweet called "el tamrieh."