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    Home » Mediterranean Recipes

    Molokhia Soup Recipe - Egyptian Recipe

    Published: Mar 31, 2021 · Modified: Mar 31, 2022 by Radwa · This post may contain affiliate links. 3 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Molokhia Soup Recipe, 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.

    Molokhia Stew (The Green Soup)

    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.

    Molokhia Stew and a bowl of rice

    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.

    big bowl of Molokhia soup

    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.
    The Green Soup

    Molokhia soup 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
    Molokhia  Green Soup

    How to make Molokhia Soup?

    Making the broth:

    Fill a large pot with  water and add the chicken
    Add the chicken, minced onion, salt, pepper, cardamom, and bay leaves.

    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:

    heat the oil over medium heat, then add the minced garlic

    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.
    big bowl of Molokhia

    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 soup 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 soup vegetarian?

    Yes, you can. To make the soup 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.

    A spoonful of Molokhia

    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.

    • Creamy mushroom chicken
    • Roasted chicken with herbs and butter
    • Steak with garlic, butter and rosemary

    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
    • One Pan Chicken Thighs And Potatoes
    • Easy Whole Roasted Chicken With Butter And Lemon
    • Traditional Chicken And Vegetable Casserole
    • How To Cook Rib Eye Steak In A Pan With Garlic Butter
    Molokhia Stew (The Green Soup)
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    5 from 8 votes

    Molokhia Soup Recipe - Egyptian Recipe

    Molokhia is a popular dish in the Middle East and there are many ways to cook it. This Molokhia Soup Recipe is the Egyptian style.
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Egyptian, Mediterranean
    Keyword Green Soup, Molokhia Soup Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 5 minutes
    Total Time 10 minutes
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 167kcal
    Author Radwa

    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

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 167kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 667mg | Potassium: 342mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 93IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg
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    If you have a question about this Molokhia Stew recipe, please leave a comment or contact me via the contact page. And if you make this recipe, don't forget to rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comment section below. Thanks for visiting my blog.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Hana

      April 01, 2021 at 11:47 am

      5 stars
      Can I use dried Molokhia instead of frozen? Because I can't find frozen anywhere, I think it is out of stock.

      Reply
    2. Aby

      April 01, 2021 at 11:48 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    3. KJ

      May 10, 2022 at 10:56 am

      5 stars
      Lovely recipe, thank you!

      Reply

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    Hello! I’m Radwa, A wife and mother. Also, I am the recipe maker and food photographer behind Healthy Life Trainer. I love making new, simple and quick recipes every day.

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