Ingredients
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14 ounces molokheya (use 1 frozen package- should be 14oz or 400 grams, there is only one size, so if different- no prob)
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2 chicken bouillon cubes
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2 stalks celery (chopped large pieces, including the leaves)
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2 teaspoons ground coriander
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1/4 teaspoon whole coriander seed (smashed)
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1 slice tomatoes (diced into small cubes)
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1 slice onion (chopped fine)
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8 garlic cloves (crushed, use FRESH ONLY)
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1 dash cumin
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salt & pepper
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2 tablespoons oil, for frying garlic
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3 onions (sliced)
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1 carrot (sliced)
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1 whole roasting chicken (You could use a cornish game hen too, very flavorful)
Instructions
- Fill large stock pot with water, bring to a boil, add add sliced onions, carrot and celery. Add 2 chicken bouillon cubes and whole chicken or hen, sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Cover and cook until chicken tender approximately 1-2 hours.
- Skim fats from water, strain out vegetables, remove chicken and reserve about 4 cups of the broth in pot.
- While broth is simmering on real low, add bag of molokheya and a teaspoon of ground coriander, salt & pepper and a dash of cumin to the broth. (Easy way to get bag into pot: I've found by just snipping top of plastic bag, then holding over hot pot, and sliding the molokheya into the pot, the steam helps it slide out easy) DO NOT COVER.
- Add the chopped tomato and onion into the pot, just a little, as stated, 1 slice tomato, 1 slice onion, both chopped.
- Preparing the "tasha" (this is what makes the molokheya famous & tasty too): Put 2 tablespoons oil into small frying pan.
- Add crushed garlic, stir until a golden brown, add teaspoon ground coriander and the few smashed coriander seeds, stir until all dry and formed together.
- Drop this into pot of molokheya while hot, you should hear a "tsshhh" sound, if so you did it- congratulations!
- Continue cooking on low heat for approximately 10 minutes, its ready to serve.
- To serve: Brown the chicken in a pan full of melted butter and serve with white steamed rice with lightly fried vermicelli pieces. (I will post recipe for this simple, yet delicious rice).
- Spoon the molokheya into bowls and let your guests spoon onto rice or dip their warm pita breads into their bowls!
- *** Sometimes I prepare a red sauce to spoon into each individual bowl, or serve next to the molokheya bowls- its tangy and a good complement to this dish. Just take 3 slices onions, brown in butter, add two tablespoons of tomato paste, salt & pepper, a dash of cumin, add some red chili sauce (shaata) and water, cook for 20 minutes, tastes should be tangy, not too thick, with a bit of tanginess and heat.***.