Finding familiar Arabic ingredients in the UK can be difficult when your local supermarket does not stock the brands, flavours or products you grew up using. Makdous, molokhia and zaatar are three good examples: each plays a very different role in Middle Eastern cooking, yet all three can now be ordered through specialist Arabic grocery stores online.
If you're searching for the best place to order makdous, molokhia and zaatar, look for a specialist Middle Eastern supermarket that clearly identifies the brand, pack size, ingredients, storage requirements and delivery options before checkout.
24Shopping currently lists multiple makdous, molokhia and zaatar products, alongside dedicated collections for Olives & Pickles, Frozen Vegetables & Fruits and Spices & Herbs. The store also provides Arabic and Middle Eastern grocery delivery across the UK.
Quick answer: You can order makdous, frozen or dried molokhia and several regional styles of zaatar online in the UK through specialist Arabic grocery stores such as 24Shopping. Always check the individual product page for current availability, pack size, ingredients and storage instructions before placing your order.
Where Can You Buy Authentic Arabic Ingredients in the UK?
The easiest way to find less-common Middle Eastern ingredients in the UK is often through a specialist Arabic supermarket rather than relying entirely on mainstream grocery chains.
A specialised online store can bring several categories together in one order, including:
- Makdous and pickled vegetables
- Molokhia
- Zaatar and Middle Eastern spices
- Tahini
- Olive oil
- Rice
- Pulses
- Pickles and olives
- Arabic bread ingredients
- Labneh and cheese
- Halal meat
- Traditional sweets
24Shopping's current navigation includes dedicated Spices & Herbs, Pickles & Olives, Frozen Vegetables & Fruits, Rice & Grain, Tinned Food, Spreads & Tahini and Bakery & Baking sections.
That makes it possible to build a broader Middle Eastern grocery order rather than searching several different websites for individual ingredients.
What Is Makdous and How Is It Used?
Makdous is a traditional Levantine preserved aubergine dish. Small aubergines are typically stuffed with ingredients such as walnuts, garlic and red pepper, then preserved in oil. Recipes vary between families and regions, but those ingredients form the familiar flavour profile associated with many traditional versions.
Makdous is usually eaten as part of breakfast, mezze or a simple light meal rather than being treated as an ingredient that requires complicated cooking.
Common ways to serve it include:
- With Arabic or pita bread
- Alongside labneh
- With olives and pickles
- With cheese
- As part of a mezze platter
- At breakfast
- Inside sandwiches or wraps
- Alongside tomatoes and cucumber
- With other preserved vegetables
For example, Al Durra Makdous 600g is currently listed by 24Shopping as baby aubergines stuffed with walnuts, garlic and red pepper and preserved in oil. The product page specifically recommends it for breakfast, sandwiches and mezze.
You can also explore the wider Olives & Pickles collection for products that work naturally alongside makdous.
How to Choose Makdous When Shopping Online
Not every jar of makdous is identical.
When shopping online, start by checking the product information rather than selecting only by jar size or brand.
Look for:
- Brand
- Net weight
- Type of aubergine
- Filling ingredients
- Whether walnuts are included
- Type of pepper or seasoning
- Storage instructions
- Allergen information
- Instructions after opening
- Current stock status
24Shopping currently lists several different makdous products and pack sizes, including Al Durra, Sofra, Chtoura and other Levantine-style options. Product availability can change, so the individual listing should always be checked before ordering.
If you're ordering for one or two people, a smaller jar may be more practical. A larger household or mezze table may benefit from a bigger jar.
Also pay attention to allergens. Traditional versions commonly include walnuts, so the actual package label should be checked before serving to anyone with food allergies.
For more products to serve alongside it, browse Spreads & Tahini and Dairy & Fridge.
What Is Molokhia and Why Is It Popular in Middle Eastern Cooking?
Molokhia is both the name used for jute mallow leaves and for dishes prepared from them.
It has a particularly strong association with Egyptian cooking but is also eaten in different forms across the Levant and other parts of the Middle East and North Africa. Egyptian-style molokhia commonly uses finely chopped jute mallow leaves cooked into a soup-like dish, often flavoured with garlic and coriander.
Regional preparation styles differ.
Depending on the household or country, molokhia may be:
- Finely chopped
- Prepared from whole leaves
- Fresh
- Frozen
- Dried
- Cooked with broth
- Served with chicken or meat
- Served over or alongside rice
- Eaten with bread
This variety is worth understanding when shopping online because whole-leaf molokhia and finely chopped frozen molokhia are not interchangeable in every recipe.
24Shopping currently lists different formats, including Basma Molokhia 400g, which is described as finely chopped and frozen, and whole-leaf or dried molokhia products elsewhere in the catalogue.
Fresh vs Frozen Molokhia: Which Should You Buy?
The right choice depends mostly on the recipe you want to make and how much preparation you want to do.
Fresh Molokhia
Fresh leaves give you more control over preparation because you can wash, sort and chop them according to your preferred recipe.
24Shopping has listed Fresh Molokhia 200g within its UK grocery catalogue. Fresh-product availability can naturally vary.
Frozen Chopped Molokhia
Frozen chopped molokhia is convenient when you're preparing an Egyptian-style dish and want to reduce washing and chopping time.
Basma Molokhia 400g, for example, is listed as finely chopped frozen molokhia intended for traditional dishes with rice or bread. Its product page instructs customers to keep it frozen.
Browse the Frozen Vegetables & Fruits collection for frozen vegetables and related ingredients.
Whole-Leaf Molokhia
Whole leaves can be more appropriate for recipes in which the leaves remain visible and are cooked differently from finely chopped Egyptian-style molokhia.
24Shopping also lists Zaad Molokhia Whole Leaf 400g.
Dried Molokhia
Dried molokhia gives households another pantry-friendly option. The catalogue also contains dried-leaf products intended for traditional molokhia dishes.
When deciding what to buy, follow your recipe first. If it calls for finely chopped frozen leaves, don't automatically substitute whole dried leaves without adjusting the preparation method.
What Is Zaatar and What Is It Made From?
Zaatar can refer both to a Middle Eastern herb and to the well-known seasoning blend.
The exact recipe varies by region, producer and household, but zaatar blends commonly contain herbs alongside sesame seeds and sumac. Some commercial versions include other seasonings or ingredients, so there is no single universal formula.
That regional variation is one of the reasons shopping for zaatar online can be interesting.
You may find:
- Lebanese zaatar
- Palestinian zaatar
- Jordanian zaatar
- Nabulsi-style zaatar
- Green zaatar
- Manakeesh blends
- Different herb-to-sumac ratios
For example, 24Shopping lists Adonis Traditional Lebanese Zaatar 454g, whose product description includes thyme, sesame, sumac, roasted wheat and spices.
The store also lists Yafa Palestinian Zaatar 250g, Adonis Palestinian-style and Jordanian-style blends, as well as other green zaatar products.
Browse the full Spices & Herbs collection to compare different blends.
Popular Ways to Use Zaatar at Home
Zaatar is useful because it can move easily from breakfast to lunch, baking and everyday cooking.
One of the most familiar ways to use it is with olive oil on flatbread or manakeesh. Zaatar is also commonly sprinkled over labneh and used as a seasoning for other savoury dishes.
Try using zaatar:
- Mixed with olive oil for manakeesh
- Sprinkled over labneh
- With bread and olive oil
- In sandwiches and wraps
- On eggs
- Over roasted vegetables
- With potatoes
- On salads
- As a seasoning for chicken
- Over hummus or other dips
If you're planning homemade manakeesh, pair a zaatar blend from the Spices & Herbs collection with ingredients from Bakery & Baking and an olive oil from Oils, Vinegars & Sauces. The store's Lebanese zaatar listing itself recommends the blend with olive oil, manakish, wraps and labneh.
Because zaatar recipes vary, check the ingredients before adding extra salt, sesame or sumac to your food.
Other Arabic Pantry Essentials to Order With Makdous and Zaatar
If you're already trying to find the best place to order makdous, molokhia and zaatar, it makes sense to think about the other ingredients you regularly use with them.
A practical Middle Eastern pantry might include:
- Olive oil
- Tahini
- Chickpeas
- Fava beans
- Rice
- Bulgur
- Lentils
- Tomato paste
- Sumac
- Cumin
- Seven-spice blends
- Pickles
- Olives
- Vine leaves
- Dates
- Arabic coffee
- Tea
The advantage of ordering these together is not just convenience. It also makes it easier to plan complete meals.
For example:
Makdous breakfast: makdous + bread + labneh + olives + tea.
Molokhia dinner: molokhia + rice + chicken or another preferred accompaniment.
Zaatar breakfast: bread or manakeesh + zaatar + olive oil + labneh.
24Shopping's current store structure covers all of the main categories required for these combinations, including Rice & Grain, Spreads & Tahini, Bakery & Baking and Spices & Herbs.
Arabic Pickles, Olives, Tahini and Spices to Add to Your Basket
Once makdous is in the basket, olives and pickles are a natural place to continue building a mezze or breakfast selection.
The Olives & Pickles collection currently contains products such as green olives, mixed pickles, pickled cucumbers, turnips and other preserved vegetables.
For dips and sauces, browse Spreads & Tahini.
For seasoning, the Spices & Herbs collection currently contains hundreds of listings across herbs, spices and seasoning blends, including zaatar, sumac, cumin and shawarma spices.
A simple basket for a Middle Eastern breakfast could contain:
- Makdous
- Green olives
- Pickled turnips
- Labneh
- Zaatar
- Olive oil
- Bread
- Tea
For a cooking-focused basket, you could instead combine:
- Frozen molokhia
- Rice
- Garlic and seasonings
- Halal chicken or meat
- Pickles
- Tahini
This approach helps you shop around meals rather than collecting unrelated products.
How to Find Authentic Middle Eastern Brands Online
“Authentic” does not simply mean that a product has Arabic writing on the package.
A better way to shop is to check whether the retailer provides enough information to identify what you are actually buying.
Look for:
- Recognisable product and brand name
- Country or regional style where relevant
- Clear pack size
- Ingredients
- Allergen information
- Storage guidance
- Preparation instructions when required
- Clear product images
- UK delivery information
- Current availability
For zaatar, regional terminology is particularly useful because Lebanese, Palestinian and Jordanian-style products may use different blends or proportions. 24Shopping currently lists all three styles among its zaatar range.
For molokhia, check whether you're buying:
Fresh, frozen chopped, frozen whole-leaf or dried.
For makdous, check:
Jar weight, filling ingredients and allergen information.
Those details matter far more than simply choosing the first search result.
How to Order Arabic Ingredients for UK Delivery
Ordering Arabic ingredients online becomes much easier if you start with the products that are hardest for you to find locally.
1. Choose the main ingredient
Start with makdous, molokhia or zaatar depending on the meals you're planning.
Examples currently listed on the store include:
These listings represent different product types and storage needs, and live availability should be checked before checkout.
2. Check the format and pack size
Make sure the product matches your recipe and household.
For molokhia especially, check whether it is chopped, whole-leaf, dried or fresh.
3. Check ingredients and allergens
Makdous commonly contains walnuts, while zaatar blends often contain sesame. Always use the specific package information as your final allergen reference. Current 24Shopping product descriptions for makdous and Lebanese zaatar reflect these ingredients.
4. Check storage requirements
Frozen molokhia needs different handling from a jar of makdous or a dry zaatar blend. For example, Basma Molokhia is explicitly labelled to be kept frozen, while the Al Durra makdous listing gives jar-specific storage guidance after opening.
5. Add complementary products
Use the relevant collections to complete the meal:
6. Review your UK delivery options
24Shopping states that it delivers Arabic and Middle Eastern groceries across the UK, with faster delivery possible in many eligible areas. Exact delivery options should be checked for your location at checkout.
Build Your Middle Eastern Pantry Online
Finding the best place to order makdous, molokhia and zaatar is easier when you choose a retailer that lets you build a complete Middle Eastern grocery basket around them.
For breakfast and mezze, start with makdous and pickles, then add zaatar, labneh, tahini, olive oil and bread.
For traditional home cooking, browse Frozen Vegetables & Fruits for molokhia and other frozen ingredients, then add Rice & Grain, spices and the other ingredients required by your recipe.
For seasonings, compare Lebanese, Palestinian, Jordanian and other blends within Spices & Herbs. 24Shopping's current catalogue includes multiple styles rather than limiting shoppers to a single zaatar option.
The key is to check the product itself—not just the category name. Look at its format, ingredients, size and storage requirements before ordering, particularly for frozen foods and products containing nuts or sesame.
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Makdous, Molokhia and Zaatar FAQs
Where can I buy makdous in the UK?
You can buy makdous through specialist Middle Eastern grocery stores online. 24Shopping currently lists several makdous products from brands including Al Durra, Sofra and Chtoura. You can also browse its Olives & Pickles collection. Current availability should be checked on the individual product page before ordering.
Where can I buy frozen molokhia online?
24Shopping lists frozen molokhia products including Basma Molokhia 400g, described as finely chopped frozen molokhia. You can also browse the Frozen Vegetables & Fruits collection.
Can I order zaatar online in the UK?
Yes. Specialist Middle Eastern supermarkets can offer multiple regional zaatar blends online. 24Shopping currently lists Lebanese, Palestinian, Jordanian and other zaatar products within its Spices & Herbs collection.
How do you eat makdous?
Makdous can be eaten directly as part of breakfast or mezze and is commonly served with bread, labneh, cheese, olives and vegetables. It can also be added to sandwiches or sharing platters. Traditional versions consist of small aubergines stuffed with ingredients such as walnuts, peppers and garlic and preserved in oil.
What can you cook with molokhia?
Molokhia leaves can be used to prepare traditional Egyptian and Levantine dishes. Egyptian molokhia is commonly finely chopped and cooked into a soup-like dish, often with garlic and coriander, then served with rice or other accompaniments. Regional recipes also use whole leaves and different preparation methods.
What foods go well with zaatar?
Zaatar works particularly well with olive oil, flatbread or manakeesh, labneh, eggs, vegetables, sandwiches and wraps. It can also be used to season savoury dishes such as chicken or roasted vegetables.
Where can I buy authentic Arabic ingredients online?
Specialist Middle Eastern grocery stores are useful when you want to combine harder-to-find products with everyday pantry ingredients. 24Shopping currently offers UK delivery and categories covering makdous and pickles, frozen vegetables, spices and zaatar, rice, tahini, bakery ingredients and other Arabic grocery essentials.