Egyptian cuisine makes heavy use of poultry, legumes, vegetables and fruit from Egypt’s rich Nile Valley and Delta. It is also known for its comforting dishes and street foods.
You must try the famous Koshary (a mix of rice, pasta, lentils and chickpeas) as well as Mahshi, stuffed pigeon and a delicious soup called Molokehia.
Vegetables
Vegetables, legumes (particularly fava beans), and fruit play an important role in Egyptian cuisine. Many popular dishes are vegetarian, including ful medames, a dish consisting of mashed fava beans cooked with a variety of spices, and falafel, which consists of ground fava bean patties served in pita bread.
Other notable vegetarian dishes include baba ghanoush, a flavorful dip made from roasted eggplants combined with tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. This dish is also a good source of magnesium, which helps keep bones strong.
Another vegetarian option is mahshi, which translates to “stuffed vegetables.” Mahshi wara’a enab is a variation on this recipe that involves stuffing grape leaves with a combination of rice, onions, herbs (such as parsley and dill), and spices like cumin and cinnamon. This meal is a great source of fiber, iron, and vitamin C. It’s also one of the easiest to prepare. Similarly, kofta kebab is a favored Middle Eastern dish that features small pieces of meat (usually beef or lamb) threaded on skewers and grilled to perfection.
Meat
For meat lovers, Egyptian food offers a wide variety of options such as kebab and kofta. These meat dishes are usually paired with large loaves of Egyptian bread. The dipping sauces of baba ghanoush and tahini complete the meal for a protein-filled feast.
Another popular traditional meat-based dish is Molokhiya. This green soup is a hearty, healthy dish that can be paired with chicken or rabbit. In coastal cities, it is often accompanied by shrimp or white fish.
For vegetarians, Foul Medames is a delicious and filling eggplant-based dish. It is a traditional Egyptian food that is eaten during Spring, when it is considered a symbol of new life. The dish also makes an excellent addition to a mezze platter or can be eaten on its own as a light meal. Kunafa, or knafeh, is a sweet dessert made of thin, shredded pastry soaked in a sugar-based syrup and filled with a rich cheese filling.
Tea
Many Egyptians drink tea, especially karkadeh, a sweet, red beverage made from dried sepals of the hibiscus flower. Hibiscus has a natural tartness, which is balanced with a hint of sweetness and makes this beverage refreshing and caffeine-free.
The cuisine of Egypt draws on its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea and the Nile Valley, with fish and seafood being particularly popular. For meat lovers, there are plenty of dishes to try including sheesh kebab, kabab, and kofta – succulent grilled meat cubes.
For vegetarians, there are several options including ful medames, mashed fava beans; koshari, a dish that contains rice, macaroni, and lentils with a tomato sauce and chickpeas or macaroni; and molokhiya, chopped and cooked jute leaves seasoned with garlic, onion, and coriander.
When invited to an Egyptian meal, it is polite to bring a gift as a sign of appreciation to the host. It is also customary to use your right hand to eat, and to leave food on your plate when you are full.
Desserts
Sweets are a big thing in Egyptian cuisine. They are enjoyed all year round and many people even have them at their home fridges. One of the most famous desserts is Om Ali, which translates to Ali’s mother and there’s a really interesting story behind its name. It is made of puff pastry soaked in milk with coconut flakes, raisins and sugar and it is definitely something to try.
Another famous dessert is fetir, which can be both sweet or savory and it’s a layered pastry made out of filo dough stuffed with various ingredients. It’s quite a tricky dish to make and you will find a lot of authentic restaurants around the country that specialize in it.
The infamous jalebi, which is very popular in India and Iran, is called meshabek in Egypt and it’s usually bigger and more transparent than in other regions. You will also find basbousa (bsblwsh) in the country which is similar to what’s found in other Eastern Mediterranean countries.