Molokhia

Molokhia (or mulukhiyah, molokheyya) is an Egyptian soup as well as the leafy vegetable used to make it. It's a classic Egyptian comfort food, similar to ful medames and koshari, and is widely regarded as an Egyptian national dish.

Molokhia is made from the leaves of the Corchorus plant, also known as jute mallow, Jew's mallow, or nalta jute. It is used in the cuisines of many other countries, including Tunisia, Kenya, Haiti, and the Philippines, in addition to Egypt.

Finely chopped jute leaves are boiled in chicken broth with sautéed garlic, coriander, and seasonings to make Egyptian molokhia. Molokhia has a slimy viscosity when cooked, similar to okra. The soup is traditionally served with rice or Egyptian flatbread and is frequently paired with meat dishes such as roasted chicken, rabbit, or seafood.

Molokhia is a traditional Egyptian dish that many Egyptians grew up with. Many mothers, according to this Egyptian food blogger, use it to introduce new vegetables into their children's diets. Because most Egyptian children enjoy molokhia from an early age, mothers would hide finely chopped vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, peas, and beans in their mound of molokhia and rice.