Molokhiya Soup: The “Soup of the Kings”
If Cleopatra had a favorite comfort food, Molokhiya was probably it. This vibrant green soup comes from the leaves of the jute plant—sometimes called Jew’s mallow—and the word molokhiya literally means “of the kingdom” in Arabic. Legend has it the Pharaohs loved it so much that it became their royal dish, and Cleopatra herself supposedly slurped it up for its beauty-boosting collagen.
Now, I’ll be honest: this soup’s texture is a little… unique. Think okra-ish—silky and slightly thick. But trust me, it’s worth it! Nutritionally, Molokhiya is a superstar: it packs 3× the calcium of kale, 4× the riboflavin, plus about 70% of your daily vitamin C and 25% of vitamin A. Basically, it’s green gold in a bowl.
Serve it over quinoa or black rice, and you’ll see why my family has always called it the ultimate comfort food.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp ghee (clarified butter)
- 4 large garlic cloves (crushed and minced)
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- 2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp sea salt (plus more as needed)
- 1 14-ounce package frozen finely chopped Molokhiya (jute plant) (found in Middle Eastern specialty stores or online — do not thaw)
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- Cooked tricolor quinoa or black rice (for serving)
- 1 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- In a 2-quart (or larger) stockpot, melt the ghee over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté, stirring, until fragrant, 1–2 minutes. Stir in the cardamom, coriander, and sea salt, and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Add the frozen molokhiya directly to the pot (no need to thaw first). Cook until fully thawed, 5–10 minutes. Pour in the broth and season with additional salt as desired.
- Continue to cook over medium heat for about 10 more minutes, allowing the soup to thicken and soak up all those lovely spices.
- Serve hot over a scoop of tricolor quinoa or black rice. (Optional but fabulous: pair it with Moroccan Spiced Chicken Legs for a full royal feast.)
Chef’s tip: Don’t fear the green! The more you try it, the more it grows on you—and your body will thank you for all those vitamins and minerals. Cleopatra knew what she was doing.
