Grey paste

The other day, a little student, Mohammed Ahmed, brought in a "treat" for the class - harisse they said it was called.  It was a paste in a shallow tin foil tray.  I scooped it out, but stayed clear because it looked horrible.  I could see rice in it and it really was grey as gun metal.  Almost every little student had a bowl of it.  Leeza, my Philappina helper, had a disgusted look.  It turned that it was made of fish or meat!  I figured it was sweet somehow, as they love sugary things here.  But no, grey fish-meat paste. 

Maybe they would be disgusted by the artichoke-parmesean dip I made last weekend after a craving.  We can call it even.