The plethora of historical sites and fascinating relics found throughout Egypt undoubtedly steal most of the country’s spotlight, but visitors can’t enjoy the best the country has to offer without indulging in its delicious fare. From crispy chicken wraps served with garlic mayonnaise to heaps of tender meat atop garlicky-tomato sauce and rice, there is no shortage of delectable options to suit every hungry traveler.
What is Egyptian cuisine?
Egyptian cuisine shares many similarities with Mediterranean cuisine, including the heavy use of legumes and vegetables, especially nightshades, as well as grilled meats, primarily lamb and chicken. Egypt’s traditional pita bread, aysh baladi, is a popular accompaniment to most dishes, as is white rice, often cooked with vermicelli. Spices commonly used include cumin, coriander, and paprika, and dishes often include fresh or dried herbs including parsley, cilantro, and dill.
Most Popular Breakfast Dishes in Egypt
Ful wa ta’myeh
The two most popular breakfast foods in Egypt are ful (pronounced fool), a fava bean dip, and Egypt’s take on falafel called ta’myeh. These are served with Egypt’s traditional pita bread, or aysh beldi, sometimes alongside eggs and cheese. Other popular breakfast dishes include scrambled eggs and basterma, or beef pastrami, and sandwich batata, or french fry-stuffed pita sandwiches.
Most Popular Street Food in Egypt
Koshary
Among Egypt’s most popular street food, enjoyed for both lunch and dinner, is koshary, a carb-rich dish consisting of layers of rice, lentils, macaroni, and chickpeas, topped with crispy fried onions, tomato sauce, and a garlicky-vinegar sauce, with an optional spicy chili sauce for those who enjoy heat. This cheap and filling meal can be found in both take-out restaurants and street carts, and is a popular choice among vegetarian tourists.
Hawawshi
Another wildly popular street food is hawawshi, Egypt’s take on handheld meat pies. Spiced minced meat is stuffed into pitas and baked to perfection, rendering a crispy crust and perfectly-seasoned patty.
Shawarmas
Shawarmas, the Middle Eastern version of Greek gyros, are also common grab-and-go grub, perfect for a quick bite while sightseeing. You can opt for either a beef or chicken shawarma, both served with a side of tangy garlicky mayonnaise, or tomaya.
Most Popular Lunch and Dinner Dishes in Egypt
Macarona Béchamel
A beautiful marriage between lasagna and macaroni and cheese, macarona béchamel is a popular comfort food consisting of noodles and seasoned meat topped with a traditional béchamel sauce, finished under the broiler, leaving the top slightly charred.
Molokhia
Molokhia is a stew made from a lesser-known leafy green called jute mallow and served alongside bread or rice. It’s referred to as “the slimy green soup,” but don’t let the name put you off. Many restaurants will make a bit of a show when serving molokhia.
Mahshi
Mahshi, or Egyptian stuffed vegetables, typically consist of various vegetables, including zucchini and grapevine leaves, stuffed with seasoned rice and are a another great vegetarian option, although they can be made with minced meat.
Fattah
Fattah is often the star dish at celebrations, including the birth of a child or the first day of the Islamic holiday of Eid Al Adha, but is also a popular dish served in restaurants. It’s comprised of tender lamb or beef served atop rice and crispy pita bread, garnished with a vinegary-garlic tomato sauce.
Most Popular Deserts in Egypt
Basboosa
Dating back to the Ottoman Empire, this semolina cake, translated as “just a kiss,” is soaked in a simple syrup, often infused with orange blossom or rose water, and sometimes served with a dollop of clotted cream, or ishta.
Kanafa
Kanafa is a wildly popular dessert throughout the entire Middle East. Crunchy shredded phyllo dough, sometimes dyed bright orange, is layered with either a mixture of ricotta and mozzarella or *ishta*, then drenched in rosewater syrup and topped with crushed pistachios.
Roz bil leben
Literally translated as rice in milk, this traditional Egyptian rice pudding is made with rice, spices, honey, milk, and rosewater, topped with crushed nuts and raisins and served warm or chilled. Ruz bil leben can even be found in most kushuks, or convenience stores, in small, freshly-prepared batches, for a sweet treat on the go.
Umm Ali
Umm Ali, or Ali’s mother, is reminiscent of bread pudding and prepared by soaking bread in milk with sugar, raisins, and nuts before baking. It’s often baked and served in a small clay pot, or togin, which is yours to keep — hello free souvenir!
There is certainly no shortage of fascinating historical sites and ancient artifacts to marvel at in Egypt, but visitors can’t enjoy the best the country has to offer without indulging in its delicious fare. From crispy chicken wraps served with garlic mayonnaise to heaps of tender meat atop garlicky-tomato sauce and rice, there is no shortage of delectable options to suit every hungry traveler.
About the author: This is a guest post from Lindsey Faraj. She is a freelance writer who has lived in Egypt and enjoys sharing the food and culture of the country.
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