Do you know about this super food? This dish is a classic favorite for Egyptians and is prepared in its uniquely flavored broth and usually served over rice, or with pita bread. Its savory, garlicky flavor is an instant hit and its slipper texture makes it perfect for use in soup and sauces. This dish is outstanding in flavor, and less known for how incredibly nutritious it is, and most importantly very easy to prepare! Mulokhia leaves are incredibly nutrient dense leafy greens full of  phytonutrients that support heart health, immunity, bone health, and anti-inflammation, which may be why this dish used to only be served to the royals and Pharaohs of Egypt.  These super greens are said to have more beta carotene and calcium than spinach, kale, and broccoli, and are also rich in Vitamins A, C, E, K as well as selenium and iron. If only Popeye knew about these leaves!

Mulokhia is not commonly grown or sold in the US, but it is easy to find in the frozen aisle of any Middle Eastern market, as it is a staple. The frozen leaves tastes just as great and as fresh, and they are a lot easier than all the work of picking and mincing. There are two kinds of mulokhia in the frozen aisle, and for this Egyptian version you must use the minced leaves, not the whole. 

Mulokhia is one of the first greens I have introduced to both of my babies, and they absolutely LOVED it. It is perfect for babies starting solids because it is minced and served as an easy to swallow soup. Needless to say, it is a favorite in my household and I am glad it is so easy to prepare.  Egyptians always use the minced mulokhia leaves to prepare this recipe, and visions of my grandmother chopping the fresh leaves with an old fashioned mezzaluna blade is a great memory that makes this dish the ultimate nostalgic comfort food. 

To start, you need a good chicken broth. Insert here your preferred source, but I always love making my own broth with a whole chicken or a few chicken legs and later enjoying the freshly cooked, then roasted chicken along with my mulokhia. Simply boil a whole chicken or a few bone-in legs with an onion, cardamom, bay leaves, salt and pepper for 30-60 minutes. You could also enjoy this as a vegan dish however, by using a vegetable broth, which will work just as perfectly.

The savored and distinct flavor and scent of mulokhia is achieved when you make the “taqliyya” (which means fried mixture in Arabic). In Egypt, you will often find this scent wafting from homes as you pass them by as this is a favorite traditional dinner served weekly. Simply sauté about 10 beautiful cloves of crushed garlic in olive oil with 2 tablespoons of ground coriander seed. The smell in your kitchen will lure every one in, but no worries you are almost done! Once you stir this garlic-coriander mixture into the broth, place the frozen mulokhia block into the broth and stir it every so often until it has melted. It is important to not over-boil this soup, as the leaves may end up sinking and separating from the broth and you will not have the homogenous consistency that is desired. 

I like to pan fry or oven roast the chicken I used to make the broth by rubbing it with garlic, salt, and pepper, then searing it in lemon and onions. Yummy!

Serve the mulokhia with rice or pita, and you may eat with roasted chicken on the side. Sometimes, when I wish to take a healthier route than white rice, I use quinoa as a side. Bil hana wil Shifa! (With health and healing!)