The story
Kebab karaz, small lamb meatballs simmered in a sauce of sour cherries, is a speciality of Aleppo, Syria's second city and a stop on the old Silk Road long famed for its rich, spice-laden cooking. No single cook or date is recorded; the dish grew out of the city's tradition of pairing meat with fruit. Proper versions use a small, tart local cherry that turns the sauce deep magenta and cuts through the richness of the lamb, so it is made in early summer when the fruit is in season. Aleppo's emigrants, including Syrian Jewish and Armenian families, carried versions of it abroad.
Also known as kebab karaz, kabab bil karaz, كباب كرز, kebab garaz, cherry kabab.
On the Meridish menu
Cherry kebab (kebab karaz) was the main course on menu No. 27 on October 27, 2026. Its clue in the game, which hints at the place without naming it:
Lamb meatballs simmered in a sweet-and-sour sauce of small sour cherries, a summer treat from an ancient Silk Road city long famed as a gourmet capital.
In Meridish, every dish is pinned to the town or city most widely credited with creating it. A guess within 25 km scores all 100 points. How scoring works.
Sources
Food history is often disputed. Think we've pinned it in the wrong place? Tell us at hello@meridish.com, ideally with a source.
