Literally, 'rice from the earth', may be one of mankind's earliest processed foods. It is estimated that Hebrew civilisations were already making it more than 4,000 years ago. In Menorca it tended to be an ancient dish cooked by the rural people. It was boiled in a large pot and when it had boiled, it was strained and cleaned several times with water. Then it was left to dry in a sunny place and, when it had dried, it was chopped until the husk came off. Today it is not as common to find in our kitchens, but it is still a typical dish in our gastronomy.