Mloukhiyeh bil Roz (Jute Leaf Stew with Rice)
Artwork Details
| Full Title | Mloukhiyeh bil Roz (Jute Leaf Stew with Rice) |
| Title in Arabic | ملوخية بالرز |
| Artist | Ruba Saqr |
| Medium and Support | Gouache on paper |
| Dimensions | Height 28.5cm x Width 28.5cm |
| Paper Dimensions | Height 29.5cm x Width 29.5cm |
| Date Made | 2025 |
| Display Type | The artwork has been scanned in order to showcase it online |
| Notes | The signature at the bottom of the painting has been added digitally for the purpose of crediting the artist online. The original artwork will be signed on the back |
| Keywords | Levantine food culture painting, North African cuisine art, Eastern Mediterranean culinary culture artwork, Middle Eastern food painting, Levantine woman artist, Jordanian fine artist, women artists, female artist |
Description
This Levantine homemade dish, Mloukhiyeh bil Roz, aka jute leaf stew with rice, is the inspiration behind this original gouache on paper artwork. It is painted on premium, acid-free, 300 gsm watercolour paper.
An example of how a few dishes and ingredients have migrated from Maghreb to Mashreq, Mloukhiyeh (as pronounced in some Levantine dialects), or Molokhia (in the Egyptian dialect) is an ancient food originating in Egypt.
Interestingly, it somehow travelled all the way to Bilad al-Sham (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine) and morphed into a variety of homemade recipes starring this exquisite green leaf. The Syrian version – passed down to me by the matriarchs in my family – involves a large quantity of chopped coriander leaves and a healthy amount of garlic.
As a child, this dish was one of the most requested in our household (mainly by me). It competed for first place against the coveted Kousa wa Baitenjan Mahshi (Levantine stuffed zucchini & aubergines) for over a decade. It continues to be one of my most favourite Shami dishes.
This artwork is part of an ongoing series showcasing the culinary culture of the Mediterranean, Bilad al-Sham (Levant), Middle East and North Africa.
