Francois Syrian

Francois Syrian is a family-heirloom molokhia maintained by Mason Harkrader and Wiley at Bear Bottom Farm in Virginia. Owen Taylor's 2019 grower account traces it to Mason's grandfather, Francois Moussalli, who grew the crop for decades after his family emigrated from Syria via Egypt to the United States. His grandchildren revived seeds preserved for 15 years in a freezer. The family's preparation uses finely chopped leaves simmered with onions, garlic, spices and stock, served over rice with lemon juice.