An Edible Mosaic™

Everyday Fare With Extraordinary Flair

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • about
    • contact
    • accessibility
    • privacy policy
    • terms and conditions
  • cookbooks
  • recipes
  • explore world cuisine
    • arabic and middle eastern
    • asian
    • british
    • buffalo foods
    • czech
    • dutch
    • ethiopian
    • french
    • german
    • greek
    • indian
    • irish
    • italian
    • jamaican
    • jewish
    • latin
    • polish
    • russian and ukrainian
    • swedish
    • tex mex
    • thai
    • west african
  • web stories
  • my other blogs
    • daily desserting
    • the keto queens

Home » Cuisine » Arabic and Middle Eastern » Molokhia Waraq

Molokhia Waraq

June 5, 2013 by Faith 14 Comments

DSC_8160(small)

If you’re a long-time reader of my blog, you know I try to be as transparent with my readers as possible, so I’m going to give it to you straight on this: I can’t even begin to tell you how disgusted I was when I first tried Molokhia in the Middle East.

The flavor wasn’t bad – it’s earthy, sort-of like spinach, flavor-wise.

But texturally, it’s something else altogether.

Meaning, it’s slimy as heck.

DSC_8174(small)

Sort-of like okra, but even more slimy and mucosal than okra, especially if it’s made into soup like this. When you go to take a spoonful, it just seems to move as one unit. But surprisingly the flavor really grows on you. After having this meal three or four times in the Middle East, I was hooked and it became something I craved even home in the U.S.

If you’re not familiar with it, it’s commonly known in the Arab world that Molokhia hails from Egypt and was the food of royalty, as Molokhia literally translates to “for royalty”. In English, Molokhia can be found called Jew’s Mallow, Jute Mallow, Green Mallow, or Nalta. I buy it frozen (which I much prefer over dried) from a local Middle Eastern grocery store.

Molokhia is frequently minced very, very small and made into soup, which is served with either chicken or red meat like beef or lamb, and eaten spooned over rice. This recipe is different altogether – waraq means “leaves” and the leaves are left whole instead of being minced. I like it made with tender, slow-cooked beef. Serve it with fresh lemon for squeezing on top and flatbread (khubz) to scoop it up. (I share a recipe for Middle Eastern flatbread in my cookbook!)

DSC_8144(small)

Print
Molokhia Waraq
Prep time:  5 mins
Cook time:  1 hour 30 mins
Total time:  1 hour 35 mins
Yield: 4 servings
 
Ingredients
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1½ lbs beef (or lamb) stew meat
  • 2½ cups beef stock
  • 2 (14 oz/400 g) bags frozen molokhia waraq, thawed (not drained)
  • 1½ teaspoons coarse kosher salt (more or less to taste)
  • 4 large cloves garlic, crushed using a mortar and pestle or grated on a microplane
  • Fresh lemon wedges, for serving
  • Fresh Middle Eastern flatbread (khubz), for serving
Instructions
  1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 5-quart pot over medium-high heat; add half the meat and sear, cooking about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the seared meat to a bowl and cook the remaining meat the same way.
  2. Add the beef back into the pot along with the beef stock (the stock should just cover the meat). Bring to a boil over high heat, then cover the pot, turn the heat down to simmer, and cook until the meat is tender and the liquid is evaporated, about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.
  3. Turn the heat up to medium and stir in the thawed molokhia waraq and the salt; cook until there isn’t any liquid in the bottom of the pot, about 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small skillet over medium-low heat; add the garlic and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir into the molokhia.
  5. Transfer the molokhia to a serving bowl and serve with fresh lemon wedges to squeeze on top and fresh flatbread to scoop it up.
3.5.3251

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links to products I believe in, which means that even though it doesn’t cost you anything extra, I will receive a small amount of money from the sale of these items, which helps me keep this site alive – thank you for helping to support An Edible Mosaic!

Filed Under: Arabic and Middle Eastern, Beef, Gluten Free, Paleo Tagged: Arabic Food, Egyptian Food, Middle Eastern Food, Molokhia Waraq

Comments

  1. Nora says

    June 25, 2013 at 11:28 pm

    This was my favorite food growing up in the Middle East. I crave it all the time now that I’m living in Toronto. It’s the first dish I request of my mom when I go back to visit. Thanks to you, I can now try to make it myself! This post has made me so nostalgic!

    Reply
  2. charlotte says

    June 7, 2013 at 1:20 pm

    My husband is Tunisian, and he introduced me to Molokhia. He uses the dried, which requires a completely different process and is DELICIOUS! It also loses it’s sliminess. We tried shortcutting with frozen molokhia once, and yeah, slimy.

    Try the dried, but look up the Tunisian process. It takes long, but it’s the best!

    Reply
  3. gaia says

    June 7, 2013 at 3:54 am

    this is my favorite dish being a cypriot.We make this dish with lots of crushed tomatoes and olive oil though…and it tastes great with chicken too! I loved your blog and thank you so much for sharing! gaia.

    Reply
  4. Caroline says

    June 6, 2013 at 11:19 am

    Faith, you know I grew up eating Middle Eastern food, so when I was little, my Mom made Molokhia often. My Dad loved it. I used to eat it, but was never crazy about it. BUT, I’ve revisited it as an adult and I love it! I am so intrigued by this dish! I’ve never seen the leaves whole, we only ate the minced version. I love the addition of the beef and that it looks more like a stew than the soupy version. I need to get to the Middle Eastern market soon and look for this! Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
  5. Jarome says

    June 6, 2013 at 8:54 am

    Amazing dish. Now im starving. :)

    Reply
  6. Veronica says

    June 5, 2013 at 9:44 pm

    LOL, thanks for keepin it real, Faith! Now I know what to expect if I try it. :)

    Reply
  7. dixya| food, pleasure, and health says

    June 5, 2013 at 12:14 pm

    i dont know how I feel about slimy greens but now that you mentioned it grows on you – maybe i will be adventurous and try it someday.

    Reply
  8. Alyssa (Everyday Maven) says

    June 5, 2013 at 11:37 am

    I’ve never had this but now am intrigued! I am a big fan of okra but usually in stew or crispy so I am thinking I might like it or it would quickly grow on me.

    Reply
  9. Erica says

    June 5, 2013 at 9:07 am

    hahah…I think you have to either grow to love okra…or cook it the specific way that makes it palatable for you. Living in the south, okra is everywhere! I have never heard of this dish. You always introduce me to new foods to try/love!

    Reply
  10. [email protected] n Dishes says

    June 5, 2013 at 8:04 am

    Mmm I love me some greens; though I’ve not eaten Molokhia. I have to try it, so I’ll be on the look out for Molokhia from now on. Thanks for introducing me to something new Faith!

    Reply
  11. Sara @ Magia e Pasta says

    June 5, 2013 at 7:59 am

    Uggh, I feel like the worst Egyptian all the time because I hate, hate, hate molokhia – I just cannot get over the sliminess! I’ll have to give it another try, maybe using just the leaves and perhaps making it into a sandwich with pita so the texture of the bread masks the molokhia a little bit…

    Reply
  12. Deana says

    June 5, 2013 at 6:19 am

    Mallows are terribly good for you… at least the kind with little pink flowers which are a world away from the tropical variety. I had to look it up because I always thought of it as a temperate plant. Who knew a durian and a hibiscus were related? I know I would have trouble with the texture. Very brave of you to try it!!

    Reply
    • Faith says

      June 5, 2013 at 7:24 am

      Deana, It’s funny, I didn’t think of it as being brave when I first tried this dish with my in-laws in the Middle East…it was just dinnertime and this is what we were having, lol. I’m glad I gave it a try more than once because it really grew on me, and to this day is something I love to make for my hubby and I!

      Reply
  13. Rosa says

    June 5, 2013 at 5:17 am

    Mouthwatering and healthy! A fabulous dish.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Rate this recipe:  

Hello and welcome to An Edible Mosaic! This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. Here you’ll find a focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home.

 

Affiliate Disclosure

An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

meet faith

I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

an edible mosaic cookbook

affiliate disclosure

An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

Home | About | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Contact

Copyright © 2023 | Faith Gorsky, An Edible Mosaic™ | All Rights Reserved