Yemeni Saltah with Hilbeh and Sahawiq
A beef and vegetable stew served hot with frothy hilbeh and a spicy herb sauce. Makes 3 servings; preparation times are approximate.
Saltah is a Yemeni stew served with hilbeh, a whipped fenugreek mixture, and sahawiq, a green herb and chili sauce. This version brings together tender meat, spiced broth, and both accompaniments.
Ingredient allergens
Allergen listThere are no verified associations for these ingredients yet.
Method
- 01
Make the sahawiq
Blend the coriander seeds, cumin seeds for the sahawiq, and black pepper to a powder. Add the garlic for the sahawiq, small chilies for the sahawiq, and salt for the sahawiq; blend into a coarse paste. Add the cilantro and parsley in batches, then, with the blender running, slowly pour in the olive oil for the sahawiq.
Ready to continue when: The mixture forms an even green paste with no large pieces of herbs or chili.
10 min - 02
Soak the fenugreek
Put the ground fenugreek in a bowl and cover it with the water for soaking the fenugreek. Leave it to soak for at least 1 hour.
Ready to continue when: The fenugreek is hydrated and has absorbed some of the water.
60 min - 03
Cook the saltah base
Heat the oil for the stew in a wide pot over medium heat. Add the garlic for the stew, onion, and green chili for the stew; cook until the garlic is browned and the onion is translucent. Stir in the ground cumin, ground coriander, and turmeric.
Ready to continue when: The garlic is browned, the onion looks translucent, and the spices are fragrant.
10 min - 04
Brown the beef
Add the cubed beef and salt for the stew to the pot. Stir to coat the meat in the spice mixture and brown it for about 5 minutes.
Ready to continue when: The surfaces of the beef pieces are browned.
5 min - 05
Simmer the stew
Pour in the water for the stew and bring it to a boil. Cover the pot, lower the heat, and simmer until the beef is tender and breaks apart easily. If the broth becomes too thick, add a little more water.
Ready to continue when: The beef is tender and separates easily with a fork; the broth is slightly thick.
120 min - 06
Whip the hilbeh
Drain the excess water from the soaked fenugreek and beat it vigorously by hand or with a mixer until it lightens in color and becomes foamy. Mix in 2 tablespoons of the prepared sahawiq.
Ready to continue when: The fenugreek mixture has lightened in color and become airy and foamy.
10 min - 07
Serve
Divide the stew among bowls and spoon a portion of hilbeh on top. Serve with the remaining sahawiq.
Ready to continue when: Each bowl contains hot stew topped with hilbeh and served with sahawiq.
5 min
Ingredients
Sources and review
Content researched, cross-checked and automatically validated. Sources consulted:
- Para la ciudadanía www.aesan.gob.es/para-la-ciudadania
- Nutrición www.aesan.gob.es/nutricion
- What to Eat and Drink in Yemen? Coffee, Honey and Floor Feasts | Koryo Tours - Koryo Tours koryogroup.com/blog/yemen-food
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- Oh, hey akastage-www.foodsafety.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-wedding-food-safety.pdf
- Whether Donating or Receiving Food This Thanksgiving, Everyone Can Be Thankful for Food Safety akastage-www.foodsafety.gov/blog/whether-donating-or-receiving-food-thanksgiving-everyone-ca…
- Traditional Yemeni Fahsa or Saltah Recipe | Samsung Food App app.samsungfood.com/recipes/107019532eb9fa7795da2392f1f49f5e356
- Chouia (Yemenite Stew) - Recipe - Foodish foodish.anumuseum.org.il/en/recipe/chouia-yemenite-stew-2/
- Chef Muna Al-Maflehi’s Traditional Yemeni Fahsa Recipe www.service95.com/fahsa-recipe-chef-muna-al-maflehi
- Masoob - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masoob
- Recetas del mundo: Salah, el plato nacional de la gastronomía yemení | La Rioja www.larioja.com/degusta/la-receta/salah-plato-nacional-gastronomia-yemeni-20260523123738-nt.…
- Hilbeh yemenita aishlatino.com/hilbeh-yemenita/
- Zhug | Gastronomía & Cía www.gastronomiaycia.com/zhug/amp/
- Where We Are Going Today: ‘Sababah’ in Jeddah - Where We Are Going Today: ‘Sababah’ in Jeddah www.arabnews.com/food-health/where-we-are-going-today-sababah-in-jeddah-2623674
State: Published after documentary validation; no “Tested” label is shown.