Vermicelli (Shaayreyh)

Vermicelli, known in Lebanon as shaayreyh, is a thin, short pasta made from wheat flour and a staple of everyday Lebanese cooking. It is usually browned in a little oil or butter until golden, then cooked with rice to make rice with vermicelli, the side dish served alongside stews, grilled meat and vegetables. It is also added to soups such as lentil soup or chicken soup. At Dekenet Al Nes in Baaqline, in the Chouf, vermicelli is sold by the kilo without packaging. As a package-free grocery store, Dekenet Al Nes encourages customers to bring their own containers and take only the amount they need, which helps cut plastic waste and single-use packaging.