Mlokhiya, A prisoners first food after 9 years in Isolation

https://twitter.com/#!/LinahAlsaafin/status/203438970128965632

On twitter today we hear about political prisoner Abdullah Barghouti, and that for the first time in 9 years, the Israeli prison authority let him call his family.  Imagine the emotion of that moment!  He tells his family he is back in human contact, and that prisoners cooked mlokhiya for him.  So, as a tribute to ALL prisoners in isolation, who are still awaiting that call & that welcoming meal of Mlokhiya, I urge you to try it if you have not.  Just look for the bags of frozen mlokhiya (almost always prepared from fresh leaves in Palestine) at your local Arab grocers.  This is the vegan version:

Ingredients (5-6)

• 2 packets of frozen or fresh finely chopped mlokhiya (molokhia leaves) (Frozen molokhia is almost always sold finely chopped, but double check the package to make sure)
• 6 cups of vegetable broth, canned or freshly made
• 1 yellow onion, cut in fourths
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon of organic grass-fed ghee or pastured butter
• 1 tablespoon ground organic coriander
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2-3 bay leaves, broken into pieces
• 4-5 cardamom pods, crushed to release flavor
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• First bring stock to boil, and then add the frozen leaves in small pieces to the broth. Boil for 10 minutes. Chop onion and garlic very fine and saute in a pan with the olive oil and the spices. Add this mixture to the boiling soup and stir. Cook for 10 more minutes until it becomes thick. Serve warm with hot cooked rice.  Swirl lemon juice over top.