AKA Jareesh, Hareesh, Hareesa, Bokoboko, Arizah, Kashkeg

Name: AKA Jareesh, Hareesh, Hareesa, Bokoboko, Arizah, Kashkeg (My Silk Route Harees)
Cuisine: Saudi Arabian
Ingredients: 200 g (7 oz) long-grain or basmati rice; 200 g (7 oz) long-grain or basmati rice; 500 g (1 lb 2 oz) cracked wheat or freekeh; 500 g (1 lb 2 oz) cracked wheat or freekeh; 2 heaped tbsp ghee (or 4 tbsp vegetable oil); ½ bulb of garlic, cloves peeled and sliced; 1.25-1.5 kg (2¾-3¼ lb) lamb shoulder or leg, cut into 4-5 big chunks (ask your butcher to cut these up for you; chicken can be substituted); 1.25-1.5 kg (2¾-3¼ lb) lamb shoulder or leg, cut into 4-5 big chunks (ask your butcher to cut these up for you; chicken can be substituted); 1.25-1.5 kg (2¾-3¼ lb) lamb shoulder or leg, cut into 4-5 big chunks (ask your butcher to cut these up for you; chicken can be substituted); 8-10 green cardamom pods; 4 whole white loomi (dried lemons); 2 bay leaves; ½ tbsp black peppercorns; 3 litres (105 fl oz/13¼ cups) hot water plus more if needed to thin out to a desired consistency; Sea salt; 250 g (9 oz/1 cup) ghee (yes this much as it is the star of the show); 1 medium onion, finely chopped; 3 cloves of garlic, finely sliced; 2 medium tomatoes, chopped; 5-6 green chillies, slit in half lengthways; 1 heaped tsp ground loomi (preferably white); 1 heaped tsp ground loomi (preferably white); 5-6 strands of saffron; ½ tbsp ground coriander; 1 heaped tsp ground green cardamom; A small handful of chopped coriander (cilantro); A small handful of chopped coriander (cilantro); 1 tbsp toasted pine nuts; Mabshoor (optional, but this gives a very Kashmiri touch and completes my Silk Route Harees)

My Silk Route Harees

Preparation info

Serves
10
generously

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

The Red Sea Cookbook

By Madeeha Qureshi

Published 2026

About

If there is one dish that ultimately defines the diverse influences and regional flavours of the old Silk Route integrated into food, it’s got to be harees.

Harees is one of the main dishes of Saudi identity. It has recently made its mark on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It is the very heart of Najdi cuisine (a central region of Saudi Arabia).

Hisham Baeshen, a local food content creator and a friend of mine,

Ingredients

Asia
Saudi Arabia
Main course
Gluten-free
Vegetarian

Ingredients

Method