Eid Moubarak With Molokhia

Today is 'Eid ul-Adha', a celebration in Islam marking the end of the Hajj which commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail as an act of obedience to God. And 'Molokhia' was the celebration meal at somerville kitchen.

Molokhia as a term means meal of the kings. In this case, though, it is a reference to Mallow leaves cooked as a thick soup. The base is chicken/meat broth that is mixed with mashed grilled onions, garlic and cilantro. The soup is served over rice, chicken and meat.

This meal is extremely popular in Egypt. In Lebanon, it is a meal for special occasions. Fresh mallow leaves are hard to come by in Canada, but they are available frozen, canned or dried. Tonight's meal was made from dried leaves brought over from Kuwait.

One of the most fun aspects of eating Molokhia is the order in which the different components are stacked on the plate - this order varies by individuals and personal tastes as opposed to by region. My personal order of choice follows the numbering on the picture below - (1) baked pita chips, (2) rice, (3) chicken and meat, (4) the stew and then a choice of onions and lemon juice (5a) or onions and vinegar (5b); but to each his/her own.