11 Egyptian Dishes You Must Try
One question which is often asked by tourists is “What is the most popular food in Egypt?” or ” What is the traditional food in Egypt?” Through this article, I will try to describe some of the most popular and traditional foods in Egypt and Egyptian dishes. Hopefully, this will be inviting to people during their stay in Egypt. The Egyptian cuisine is very unique as it has been influenced throughout history by its middle east neighbors. Egyptian foods are also vegetarian friendly as they rely heavily on vegetables and legumes. Vegetables are also much cheaper than meat.
Below is a list of the most delicious and popular dishes served in Egypt today.
1- Ful Medames and Ta’meya
Pronounced fool, this dish is made of slow-cooked beans that are cooked in a metal jug. Before serving,it should include vegetables like tomato, radishes, and onions. Ful Medames has many health benefits as it is rich in fiber and protein. Today Ful Medames is considered the most common and popular form of street food. Ful is typically eaten for breakfast. Ta’meya is Egyptian falafel and is made of crushed fava beans that is mixed and made into a paste. It is then fried. Ta’meya is cheap, yet it is so good. It is common breakfast food in Egypt. It is often served with local bread, tomato, onions, and tahini.
2- Kushari
Kushari
one of the most popular Egyptian dishes, is a mix of rice, spaghetti, and macaroni. and lentils mixed together and topped with spiced tomato sauce. It is garnished with chickpeas and fried onions. You can also sprinkle it with garlic juice or garlic vinegar and hot sauce if desired. This dish has a very good taste and the restaurants are full of this food and can be eaten any time of the day.
3- Mulukhiya
This is a green paste that is made from jute leaves. The central spine is removed from the leaves and they are chopped finely with garlic and coriander. This dish generally includes meat such as chicken,rabbit, shrimp, or fish. It is also served with rice or bread. The taste is fresh and delicious. Egyptian homes eat this dish weekly and for this reason, it is considered one of the country’s national dishes. Mulukhiya also has many health benefits such as helping to regulate blood pressure. It helps improve digestion, increases blood circulation, and can help prevent cancer.
4- Mahshi
This is a favorite food of all Egyptians. The base of this food is stuffing made of rice, seasoned with crushed red tomatoes. onions, parsley, dill, salt, pepper, and spices. Then it is put inside some vegetables after being cored like green pepper, eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, grape leaves, and cabbage. It is served with beef, chicken, or lamb. This popular dish is served in many restaurants in Egypt.
5- Moussaka Egyptian Dish
This is a Mediterranean staple. It is one of the local Egyptian foods and it is made at home by mixing eggplant, lemon, vinegar, tomato sauce, and vegetables. The eggplant is placed in a flat pan with onions, potatoes, green peppers, and chili peppers. The dish is then covered with a red sauce made of tomato paste with garlic and spices and then cooked in the oven. Sometimes a layer of ground beef is added between the eggplant slices before being cooked. The dish can be served hot, but it’s usually chilled for the day to improve its taste.
6- Shish Kabab and Kofta
Shish kabab is juicy chunks of seasoned beef cooked over coals on a skewer. It is usually made with lamb but it can be made with versions of beef or veal. Kofta is minced meat mixed with spices and parsley. It is rolled into a finger shape onto metal skewers and then put on coals to cook. Both of these dishes are served with bread and green salads and dips like tahini and baba ghanoush. It’s One of Egypt’s traditional food to try.
7- Fattah
Fata is the number one Egypt traditional food; This dish is made of a layer of fried bread pieces mixed with garlic dipping sauce. It is covered with a layer of rice cooked with veal broth or lamb broth. It is then topped with spiced tomato sauce. This dish is eaten specifically in Muslim feasts, but it could also be served on ordinary days. Large pieces of beef are served beside the Fattah. This is a dish that should be tested by everyone in Egypt.
8- Hawashi
This Egyptian dish is a must-try food in Egypt. Spiced minced beef and onions fill the interior of the Arabic bread wrapping before it is baked in a wood oven. It is served with pickled vegetables. It is one of the most popular Egyptian food and you would love it.
9- Shawerma
Shawerma is not originally a native Egyptian food. It became so due to Egypt being part of the Ottoman Empire.
Shawerma is a popular sandwich of shredded meat, where lamb, chicken, turkey, beef, veal, or mixed meat is placed on a vertical spit and may be grilled for as long as 24 hours. Shawerma can be served on a plate, or as a sandwich or wrap. It is usually eaten with tomato, onion, and pickled vegetables. Toppings for shawarma include tahini, hummus, and baba ghanoush. Shawerma has now become one of the most popular street foods in Egypt.
10- Baba Ghanoush Egyptian Dish
This is one of the side dishes like tahini salad. It’s a very popular food in egypt Egyptian and people like to eat it beside their dinner, lunch, or even breakfast. It consists of grilled aubergine peeled and mashed then added to tahini in addition to lemon juice, pepper, salt, parsley, cumin, and olive oil. It is commonly served with fish, Fattah, or shawarma. In addition, it is delicious and gives people good appetites.
11- Basbousa
Basbousa is one of the most delicious Egyptian dishes to try. In truth, this is a sweet cake that is made of semolina flour soaked in syrup or rose water or honey and lemon and sometimes coconut is added. It is topped with almonds and cut vertically into slices so that each piece has a diamond shape.
