Food

Popular Egyptian Dishes

Because trying people's food is like tasting their culture, trying Egyptian food is an amazing part of our journey.

Let's stroll through the Egyptian kitchen together!

Ful Medammes

Ful is the most common traditional breakfast, it’s a staple in every Egyptians’ diet.

Ful, pronounced as fool, is made of fava beans cooked with oil and salt.

Fava beans (broad beans) are encased in long fat green pods.

Falafel, also known as Ta’meya

Falafel are traditionally served in Egyptian breakfast along with ful, eggs, cheese and bread.

Traditional falafel are made with chickpeas, but Egyptians ta’meya is made of fava beans.

Koshari

Koshary or Koshari is one of the most traditional Egyptian foods.

It is popularly found on the streets of Egypt served from carts and restaurants and it’s a cheap and filling meal – a total carb bomb!

A layering of rice, macaroni, lentils, and chickpeas topped off with caramelized onions, thick red sauce, and a garlic/chili/vinegar/ sauce.

Mahshi

Mahshi is a favorite hit amongst Egyptians and great for vegetarian travelers.

Mahshi is basically vegetables of choice stuffed with a rice filling, such as zucchini, eggplants, bell peppers, tomatoes, cabbage leaves, or grapevine leaves (similar to Greek dolma).

The filling consists of rice, herbs (parsley, cilantro, and dill) and tomato sauce.

Molokhia

It’s a stew made up of a leafy green, cut into tiny pieces and prepared in chicken, beef or seafood broth mixed with ground coriander and fried garlic.

It’s generally served with rice, bread, and choice of chicken, beef or seafood.

Cities along the coast like Alexandria might eat molokhia with shrimp or fish.

Fattah

Fattah goes all the way back to ancient Egypt where it was served in big feasts, celebrations such as weddings and the birth of a new baby.

Still today fattah is a main dish in the first day of the Islamic feast (Eid-al-adha).

It is a combination of crispy bread, rice, meat and vinegar/tomato sauce.

Mesaqa‘ah

This Egyptian dish is the local version of moussaka. Moussaka is deemed to be a dish from Middle East and Greece. It’s usually based on either potato or eggplant. Mesaqa‘ah, however, is mainly based on eggplant.

Macaroni Béchamel

This dish makes use of penne but omits cheese in its list of ingredients. Instead of cheese, béchamel sauce is used.

The said sauce is the delightful product of milk and white roux mixture.

Shakshouka

Poached eggs and tomato sauce make up a yummy combination.

This dish is called shakshouka.

Its name is taken from the Arabic slang meaning mixture.

Kebda Eskandarani

Alexandria is recognized locally for its seafood-based cuisines. However, the city has a lot to offer aside from those. One of its prized food is kebda eskandarani.

The main ingredient is cow liver. It’s a kind of liver sandwich.

Bamia Bi-lahm

Cooked okra with variation, known as bamia bi-lahm, features lamb meat as one of the main ingredients.

Tomatoes, tomato sauce, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, coriander, cardamom and vegetable oil add flavors and texture to the dish.

Popular Egyptian Desserts

Roz Bel Laban

Roz Bel Laban translates to rice with milk. It’s Egypt’s version of rice pudding.

Rice cooked in milk, sometimes cream (ishta), with sugar typically topped with pistachio pieces.

Umm Ali

Umm Ali is translated to Ali’s Mother. A dish that goes back to the 13th century, legend has it that Sultan Ezz El Din Aybak’s wife made it for a victory celebration where it was made and shared amongst people of the land. Since then it became famously known after her.

A hearty dessert combined with sweet flavors of bread (puff pastry), milk and sugar – Egypt’s version of bread pudding. It’s commonly topped with a mix of raisins, nuts, and coconut pieces. It’s served while hot.

Konafa

The queen of Egyptian sweets, made of shredded konafa pieces, filled with cream or cheese, baked and eaten with syrup.

You will find konafa eaten during gatherings while celebrating the holy month of Ramadan.

Popular Egyptian Beverages

Tea

Is one of Egypt’s most popular beverages.

You can drink black tea virtually anywhere in several different forms, with varying methods of preparation and amounts of sugar.

Herbal teas

Are also popular, especially refreshing hibiscus tea.

Mint tea is another great option.

You may see fresh mint leaves lending flavor to black teas or lemonades as well.

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