Molokhia stew, or the Green Soup, is an amazing Mediterranean dish made by cooking minced Jute leaves in broth. There are various ways to prepare Molokhia; today, I will prepare the most famous one, which is the Egyptian way using a homemade chicken broth.
What do I like the most about Molokhia? It is delicious, simple to make and low calorie meal. Just mix the finely minced leaves of the Molokhia plant with chicken or beef broth, then top it with a mix of sauteed garlic and dried coriander.
In countries like Egypt, you can buy fresh Molokhia leaves. To cook them, you must remove the leaves from the stalks, wash them very well and chop them very finely. Some people even leave Molokhia leaves out in the sun to dry.
What is Molokhia?
Molokhia, also known as Mulukhiyah or Molokheyya, is jute leaves/Jews mallow; it is a green leaf similar to baby spinach. This vegetable which originated in Ancient Egypt is usually prepared as a soup, but it is much thicker than a regular soup. It is generally eaten cooked, not raw. Molokhia is popular in the Middle East and North African countries such as Egypt and Lebanon. Traditionally Molokhia is cooked with chicken, rabbit or meat cubes and served with white rice or pita bread.
It is hard to find fresh Molokhia leaves outside the Middle-Eastern countries. However, you can find frozen Molokhia at Middle-Eastern and Turkish grocers; frozen Molokhia is as good as fresh. When you buy frozen Molokhia, make sure you buy minced Molokhia leaves, not whole leaves, which will not work in this recipe.
The History of Molokhia
There is an old story, or a fun fact, about Molokhia in old Egyptian history. The name 'Molokhia' means 'It belongs to the king'. Only the king can eat it, and it is forbidden for regular people. It is a dish worthy for a king because it is so good, and it has so many health benefits.
Why this recipe works?
- Healthy and delicious.
- Easy to make.
- It makes a lovely dinner for the whole family.
Molokhia stew ingredients:
- Molokhia: I used frozen Molokhia for this recipe.
- Broth: Use any broth of your choice; chicken, meat or rabbit; homemade or store-bought.
- Cooking oil: You can substitute it with butter.
- Garlic: We use lots of minced garlic in this recipe, about 10 cloves.
- Dried coriander: It gives an amazing fragrance to Molokhia.
- Tomato paste: I like to add it to give the Molokhia a bit of sweetness.
Ingredients for making homemade chicken broth:
- 1 whole chicken
- 1 onion, minced
- Salt
- Pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cardamom pods
How to make Molokhia Stew?
Making the broth:
I will use chicken in making the broth. Wash a whole chicken well, then cut it into 4 pieces.
Fill a large pot with 1.5 litres of water and place it over medium heat and bring it to the boil.
Add the chicken, minced onion, salt, pepper, cardamom, and bay leaves.
Cover the pot with the lid and simmer until the chicken is fully cooked (about 20-25 minutes).
Strain out the chicken, bay leaves and cardamom pods; now you have a delicious homemade chicken broth.
Making Molokhia:
Let the Molokhia defrost at room temperature.
In a skillet, heat the oil over medium heat, then add the minced garlic, stir until it has a golden colour. Add the dry coriander and sauté with the garlic for 30 seconds.
Add the Molokhia to the simmering stock over medium to low heat, stir, then add the garlic mixture and tomato paste.
Leave it for a few seconds, then turn off the heat.
Never let the Molokhia boil. Once you see bubbles on the sides, it's done. Serve warm.
Top Tips:
- Adjust the liquid to your taste. I add just 4 cups of chicken broth, which will give it a medium thickness. If you want it a bit thicker, use less broth.
- Try to make your own broth instead of using store-bought stock. The homemade broth will definitely make Molokhia taste better.
- You can use any broth to make Molokhia, such as chicken or meat. For me, I love to make Molokhia with chicken broth.
- I don't add salt to Molokhia because I already added salt in the broth. However, I recommend tasting it and adjusting the seasoning according to your personal preference.
- You can add ½ teaspoon of baking soda to the Molokhia while cooking. It helps maintain a fresh, bright green look for the Molokhia.
- Adding the tomato paste is optional, and it doesn't affect the colour of Molokhia (it will not make it red), but it gives it a bit of sweetness. You can replace it with 1 teaspoon of sugar if you like.
- It is best not to cover Molokhia while it is hot; let it cool down first, then cover it; otherwise, it may separate from the broth.
Recipe FAQs:
Is Molokhia a type of spinach?
No, Molokhia is totally different from spinach. Unlike spinach, Molokhia can't be eaten raw, and it has a different taste and texture to spinach.
Is Molokhia stew eaten cold or warm?
You can eat it both ways. If you reheat it, do not let it boil. If it boils, it will separate from the broth and sink to the bottom of the pot.
Can I make this Molokhia stew vegetarian?
Yes, you can. To make the stew vegetarian, use vegetable stock instead of beef or chicken stock.
How to store Molokhia?
To store it, just put it in a well-sealed container in the fridge. It will last for 3-4 days.
Can I freeze it?
It is better and tastier to eat Molokhia on the same day or the next day. Freezing it will affect its taste and texture badly. So, I don't recommend freezing it.
Serving suggestions:
Molokhia is usually served with white rice or with some pitta bread. You can also serve it with chicken or meat. Below are some suggestions.
Tools used in making this recipe
- Garlic press: To mince the garlic.
- Large pot: To make the homemade broth.
- Skillet: To sauté the garlic and dry coriander.
More Soup recipes
- Lamb stew recipe
- Pasta e fagioli soup
- Chicken stew with veggies
- Beef and cabbage soup
- Chicken and rice soup
More Mediterranean Recipes
- Grilled chicken kofta
- Meat pie with phyllo crust (Egyptian goulash)
- Homemade crispy falafel
- Spanakopita - spinach pie
- Mediterranean couscous salad
Molokhia Stew (The Green Soup)
Ingredients
- 1 frozen bag of Molokhia
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 10 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 4 cups chicken stock
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
Instructions
- Let the Molokhia defrost at room temperature.Never let the Molokhia boil. Once you see bubbles on the sides, it's done. Serve warm
- In a skillet, heat the oil over medium heat, then add the minced garlic, stir until it has a golden colour. Add the dry coriander and sauté with the garlic for 30 seconds.
- Add the Molokhia to the simmering stock over medium to low heat, stir, then add the garlic mixture and tomato paste. Leave it for a few seconds, then turn off the heat.
- serve warm.
Notes
- Adjust the liquid to your taste. I add just 4 cups of chicken broth, which will give it a medium thickness. If you want it a bit thicker, use less broth.
- Try to make your own broth instead of using store-bought stock. The homemade broth will definitely make Molokhia taste better.
- You can use any broth to make Molokhia, such as chicken or meat. For me, I love to make Molokhia with chicken broth.
- I don't add salt to Molokhia because I already added salt in the broth. However, I recommend tasting it and adjusting the seasoning according to your personal preference.
- You can add ½ teaspoon of baking soda to the Molokhia while cooking. It helps maintain a fresh, bright green look for the Molokhia.
- Adding the tomato paste is optional, and it doesn't affect the colour of Molokhia (it will not make it red), but it gives it a bit of sweetness. You can replace it with 1 teaspoon of sugar if you like.
- It is best not to cover Molokhia while it is hot; let it cool down first, then cover it; otherwise, it may separate from the broth.
Nutrition
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Can I use dried Molokhia instead of frozen? Because I can't find frozen anywhere, I think it is out of stock.
It is fantastic; this was my first time ever making Molokhia, and it turned out amazing. I served it with white rice and fried chicken. Thanks!