Koshari
Often eaten: Lunch or dinner
Known for: Cairo, where the modern street-food version became especially famous
Street FoodEveryday Meal
Photo: Basma (CC BY-SA 4.0)
4 dishes to discover
Food of Egypt
Egyptian food is bursting with delicious flavors and colorful ingredients, showing how much the country loves to use spices. Many dishes, like koshari and ful medames, have been enjoyed by families for a long time, connecting them to Egypt's rich history and culture. These meals tell stories from the past with every tasty bite, and they make people feel warm and happy.
Featured Dishes
Meal Culture
In Egypt, meals are a fun time to be with family and friends. People love to share dishes and enjoy flavors together. Fresh and local foods are often used to make meals delicious and healthy.
Eating Etiquette
In Egypt, it's polite to eat with your right hand, and using bread to pick up your food is common. Before starting a meal, people might offer a small prayer or say 'Bismillah,' which means 'In the name of God.'
When People Eat It
Ful Medames
Often eaten: Most often eaten for breakfast, though it can also be enjoyed as a simple lunch
Known for: A staple across Egypt, especially long associated with Cairo breakfast culture
Traditional Breakfast
Molokhia
Often eaten: Lunch or dinner
Known for: The Nile Valley and Egyptian home cooking traditions, especially in Cairo and other major cities
Family Meal
Ta'ameya
Often eaten: Breakfast or snack
Known for: A staple across Egypt, especially in Cairo and the Nile Delta
Traditional BreakfastSnack
Make It Yourself
๐ฉโ๐ณ Cook together! Always ask a grown-up to help with hot or sharp steps.
Koshariูุดุฑู
Makes 4 servingsIngredients
- 1 1/2 cups (280 g)Cooked rice
- 1 cup (200 g)Cooked lentils
- 1 cup (100 g)Cooked small pasta
- 1 cup (160 g)Canned chickpeas
- 1 1/2 cups (360 ml)Tomato sauce
- 1/2 cupFried onions
How to Make It
- 1Warm the tomato sauce in a small pot with a pinch of garlic.
- 2Spoon the rice into bowls as the base.
- 3Add a layer of lentils, then pasta, then chickpeas.
- 4Pour the warm tomato sauce over the top.
- 5Scatter crispy fried onions on top.
- 6Mix it all together at the table โ Egypt's favorite street food.
Ful Medamesููู ู ุฏู ุณ
Makes 4 servingsIngredients
- 2 cans (15 oz / 425 g)Canned fava beans
- 2 clovesGarlic, mashed
- 2 tbsp (30 ml)Lemon juice
- 2 tbsp (30 ml)Olive oil
- 1 tspCumin
- to serveFlatbread
How to Make It
- 1Ask a grown-up to warm the fava beans with a splash of water in a pot.
- 2Gently mash about half of the beans with a fork.
- 3Stir in the garlic, lemon juice, and cumin.
- 4Spoon into a bowl and drizzle with olive oil.
- 5Scoop it up with warm flatbread โ a classic Egyptian breakfast.
Molokhiaู ููุฎูุฉ
Makes 4 servingsIngredients
- 1 lb (450 g)Frozen molokhia (jute leaves)
- 4 cups (950 ml)Chicken broth
- 4 clovesGarlic, chopped
- 1 tspCoriander
- 2 tbsp (30 g)Butter
- to serveCooked rice
How to Make It
- 1Ask a grown-up to bring the chicken broth to a gentle simmer.
- 2Stir in the molokhia leaves and let it cook softly for about 10 minutes.
- 3In a small pan, sizzle the garlic and coriander in butter until fragrant.
- 4Stir the garlic mixture into the soup โ this is called 'tasha'.
- 5Simmer for 5 more minutes.
- 6Ladle over rice and enjoy this beloved green soup.
Ta'ameyaุทุนู ูุฉ
Makes 12 pattiesIngredients
- 2 cups (400 g)Dried fava beans (soaked)
- 1/2 onion, 2 clovesOnion and garlic
- 1 cup (30 g)Fresh parsley and cilantro
- 1 tsp eachCumin and coriander
- 2 tbspSesame seeds
- 2 cups (475 ml)Oil, for frying
How to Make It
- 1Blend the soaked fava beans with the onion, garlic, herbs, and spices into a green paste.
- 2Let the paste rest for 30 minutes, then shape it into small flat patties.
- 3Press a few sesame seeds onto each patty.
- 4Ask a grown-up to heat the oil to about 350ยฐF (175ยฐC).
- 5Fry the patties for 2โ3 minutes per side, until deep golden and crisp.
- 6Drain on paper towels โ this is Egyptian-style falafel.
Vocabulary
Just like in other Mediterranean countries, Egyptian food is full of vibrant spices and fresh ingredients, but it includes unique dishes like Koshari and Molokhia that make it extra special.