Exploring molokhia: A healthy twist on traditional soup recipes
If you want to diversify your daily menu and introduce exotic flavours, try the recipe for an Egyptian specialty – molokhia soup. This dish will surprise you with its unique taste and incredible health benefits.
Molokhia leaves, the main ingredient in this soup, can be found in health food stores and larger supermarkets. Molokhia soup is one of the most recognizable dishes of Egyptian cuisine, but you can also taste it in Cyprus or Tunisia.
Molokhia's distinctive feature is its slightly sticky consistency and somewhat bitter taste. It is rich in valuable nutrients such as vitamins A and C, B vitamins, iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and beta-carotene. Therefore, it is often said to be one of the healthiest soups in the world.
Some consider molokhia to be an aphrodisiac. Additionally, it has antioxidant properties that help reduce cancer risk, destroy free radicals, and slow aging.
The ingredients needed to prepare molokhia soup are:
- 1 package of frozen molokhia leaves
- 1 litre of chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- salt
- pepper
- lemon
To prepare molokhia soup, start by heating olive oil in a pan and sautéing half the garlic with salt and cilantro. Do this carefully to avoid burning the mixture. Then, add the thawed molokhia leaves and fresh garlic to the broth prepared with vegetables and meat.
Cook the soup for about 20 minutes, then add the sautéed garlic and cilantro. Finally, simmer the dish a little longer, and add fresh lemon juice and some pepper. Molokhia is served with rice or couscous and the meat from the broth.
