title: Khubeza patties
text: # Khubeza patties
  
  Khubeza patties (Hebrew: קציצות חוביזה) are fried patties made of khubeza, a variety of a mallow (native to the Levant region) combined with bulgur, pita crumbs, eggs, spices, garlic and onions.
  
  ## History
  
  During the siege of Jerusalem, when convoys of food could not reach the city, residents of Jerusalem went out to the fields to pick khubeza, a wild green which is high in iron and vitamins. The Jerusalem radio station Kol Hamagen broadcast instructions for cooking it. The broadcast, picked up in Jordan, convinced the Arabs that the Jews were dying of starvation and that victory was at hand.
  
  Food writers in Israel have encouraged the population to prepare khubeza on Israel Independence Day.
  
  ## Variations
  
  Jew's mallow (molokhia) leaves can be used instead of khubeza.
  
  