Object: Jirrin and Moddaqa

Origin Of Object:
Hand made by Albert Surtees

Purpose Of Object

Kibbeh, the Lebanese national dish, was traditionally made by pounding the meat in a marble or stone mortar (jirrin) with a wooden pestle (moddaqa). Its preparation involved a lot of time and a great deal of effort.

Significance Of Object

A prized possession! Granny Farrah was the kibbeh maker and she taught dad, an Anglais, [English] how to make it. So he went off and made his own moddaqa and jirrin.

Description Of Object

Jirrin and Moddaqa. Courtesy of Mary Surtees

Jirren and Moddaqa. Courtesy of Mary Surtees

Story

Kibbeh, the Lebanese national dish, comes in a variety of forms. While it can be vegetarian, it is generally a seasoned mixture of finely ground lamb, onion and burghul. As it was traditionally made by pounding the meat in a marble or stone mortar (jirrin) with a wooden pestle (moddaqa), its preparation involved a lot of time and a great deal of effort.
While the jirrin and the moddaqa eventually gave way to hand mincers and then electric processors, they remain in many families as valued objects:
She [granny Farrah] was the kibbeh maker and she taught dad, an Anglise [person of British background] how to do it. So he went off and he made his moddaqa and jirrin, which I have as a prized possession. It’s just beautiful. It’s been left as a natural timber. And…I can see dad sitting there pounding the meat….Then the invention of the kitchen whiz and…you know, the moddaqa and jirrin went by the board and I just, that was a part of your life.

References