Molokhia is a staple of every Egyptian kitchen and is considered the country's emblematic meal

A superfood fit for a pharaoh

Dubbed the "food of kings", the unassuming green gloop called molokhia was once outlawed in Egypt because of its alleged aphrodisiac effect.

"It's easy to swallow, so Egyptian mothers feed their babies on it after nursing," remarked Emad Farag, an employee at The St. Regis Cairo, as I slurped another spoonful of the mysterious moss-coloured soup. Of all the things I'd imagined I'd be dining on in Cairo's swankiest new hotel, "posh baby food" was not it.

But this uniquely gummy concoction is no ordinary baby food. Pronounced "mo-lo-h-i-a", but spelt innumerable ways, the unassuming green gloop was once the "food of kings" because of its curative powers. Originating from the word mulukia, which means "that which belongs to the royals", legend has it that a healing soup made from the molokhia plant nursed an Egyptian ruler back to health in the 10th Century. And so, a stew worthy of pharaohs was born, and a royal veggie was crowned.

"As far back as you can trace the roots, people ate what was local, and what is local along the Nile is molokhia," food historian-cum-food health writer Michelle Berriedale-Johnson said. To this day, 95% of Egyptians live along the fabled river's life-giving banks and arc-shaped delta.

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