Alisa / Aleesa serves as a starter dish for marriage ceremonies using chamba wheat and chicken/mutton. A muslim dish which has some resemblance to the North African couscous. It is prepared with white or off white coloured wheat,but the regular wheat can also be use. It is served during marriage ceremony and special occasions, as a starter. Serving Biryani without this is just like food without salt. North Kerala (Malabar) got influenced by many Arabic dishes and it is one of the main examples for such a dish. In Middle East it is calling as Harees (slight variation in method and ingredients) and is served mainly during Iftar time. Since there is very little spice in this dish, it is very light and soothing for the stomach.