Egypt Famous Food

Egypt which is officially known as the Arab Republic of Egypt is a country located in northeast Africa that borders the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, links northeast Africa with the Middle East, dates to the time of pharaohs and Libya, the Gaza Strip, and Sudan are some of its nearby countries. It also covers several portions of the Sahara desert, and Libyan desert, along with the Nile River, which flows from south to north.

Whenever one thinks about Egypt, the Pyramids, sphinx, pharaohs, hieroglyphics, mummies, ancient temples, etc. are some of the things which come to mind. However, Egyptian food is as fascinating as the aesthetic historical sites to visit, it’s not so well known. Moreover, Egyptian cuisine is that they make heavy use of vegetables, fruits, and legumes from Egypt’s rich delta and Nile Valley. Examples of some Egyptian dishes are falafel, hummus, rice-stuffed vegetables, grape leaves, lentils, and pasta. If one talks about ancient Egyptians then bread was one of the staple foods that they loved the most. They also had a strong liking for garlic along with figs, green vegetables, onions, fish, dates, cheese and butter, and a lot of others. Hence, a quick summary of various famous dishes of Egypt are:

1. Hamam Mahshi: It is an exceptional food found in Egyptian dishes, which is filled with squab and has been offered for ages. It is usually made with pigeons instead of Cornish hens. Its accent is ha-MAM mah-SHE bee boor-GHOUL. One must know that here squab is a small pigeon that is loved by Egyptians along with many cultures. It is not unusual to see mud-brick lofts all along the Nile river in which the pigeons are grown. Though this is a traditional dish of Egypt and is usually served on special occasions, it’s not very uncommon to find it on a restaurant menu.

2. Kushari: It is the national dish of Egypt and is widely eaten as popular street food. In ancient times it was called “Kosheir” which means “The food of Gods”, but one should not confuse it with the word Kosher which is related to the Jewish dietary laws. It is a mixed-macaroni dish and the main ingredients of this dish include rice, lentils, macaroni, tomato sauce, vegetable oil, onions, cumin, and coriander. It’s the main course food, and it tastes great when served warm or hot. It is usually served with sprinklings of garlic juice but garlic vinegar and hot sauce are just optional.

3. Shawarma: Although shawarma originated in Beirut and was not native to Egypt originally, it has become so since Egypt was part of the Ottoman Empire. Though originally it was made with mutton or lamb, it is now also made with beef, veal, chicken, or turkey. It is layers of meat and generally consists of thin slices of meat cut, stacked in a cone-like shape, and roasted on a slowly-turning spit or vertical rotisserie.

4. Ful wa Ta’meya: Ta’meya and ful mudammas, which are essentially fava beans and falafel, or ta’ameya as we call it in Egypt, are popular street food and are the original Egyptian fast foods. It is made from ground chickpeas in greater portions of the Middle East. But if we talk about Egypt it is made with dried fava beans. They’re an essential Egyptian diet, mainly because most of the ingredients that they use are easily accessible in the country.

5. Kofta and Kebab: This dish consists of minced beef, lamb, beef or veal, or sometimes a mixture of all of these meats mixed with herbs, often added with mint and parsley and also plenty of spices thrown in, which is then rolled and grilled. One can call it an Egyptian-style sausage. Here, Kebab is prepared with pieces of meat such as lamb or veal that are grilled over a coal fire on a skewer. Moreover, when accompanied with sides of dips, pieces of bread, rice, and veggies these meat dishes taste next level and most definitely can put you in a happy food coma.

6. Molokhiya: It is a green soup made of shredded Molokhiya green leaves which look like mint and tastes more or less like spinach- has had a great history. There are many arguments on accounts of its discovery but most believe that it originated in Egypt during the time of pharaohs. It can be made with meat, chicken, or even rabbits. Depending upon the region this dish is made in many different ways and has a lot of ghee and garlic hidden in there.

7. Halabesa (Chicken soup/ drink): It is a soup dish, but unlike other soups, it is served in cups with straws. It is made with chickpeas boiled with tomato, onion, garlic, tomato, and lots of spices and is considered a typical Egyptian winter street food. This boiling hot bowl of soup when taken with the toasted dry pepper flakes on a winter night is enough to warm up a weary soul. One should get it in a cup, with a spoon to eat chickpeas and a straw to drink the soup. It could be a really healthy vegan option that keeps one full and warm at night.