Aunt Hasna's Jireesh Soup

My Dad went to visit our family recently and my aunt prepared this soup for breaking fast in the evening during Ramadan. (Soup is a popular dish for breaking fast since it's usually easy on the stomach.) My Dad got her to write the recipe down and brought it home for my mom, along with a 25 lb bag of jireesh to go in it. It's been a big hit here too.

1 cup jireesh (dry uncooked cracked wheat)
4 medium tomatoes, diced
1 onion, diced
chopped cilantro, cumin, black pepper, and cinnamon and--if you can find it at a middle eastern import
store--a dried lemon or lime
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 liter water
cooked chicken breast
1 pkg. Knorr chicken noodle soup with angel hair pasta

Soak jireesh for 1 1/2 hours in water, put on low fire and simmer for 1 hour, add lemon/lime. Mix tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and spices in a blender. Add to jireesh and let simmer for 1/2 hour. Add soup packet and chopped cooked chicken and simmer another half hour. A little lemon juice can be added just before serving.

You'll be surprised how bright and fresh yet comforting this tastes. My Tennessee-born boyfriend tried it today and immediately told me I needed to get the recipe. Got it covered, I replied.