One of the most common inquiries visitors have before visiting Egypt is, “What is the most popular meal in Egypt?” or “What is the traditional food in Egypt?” So, in this post, we will try to shine a light on some of the most common and tasty Egyptian foods, urging visitors to experience them when they visit Egypt, in the hope that it would round out their vacation experience.
Egyptian food has been impacted throughout history, notably by its Middle Eastern neighbors. As a result, you will be able to experience a variety of cultures in one dish.
Egyptian cuisine is particularly suited to vegetarian diets, as it depends primarily on veggies and beans rather than meat, as it has for centuries, owing to the fact that vegetables are far cheaper than meat. We attempted to include all of the information you might seek on this issue on this page, so you won’t have to go anywhere else. The following is a list of the most delectable and popular traditional foods offered in Egypt today.
1 – Ful Medames & Ta’ameya:
Ful Medames (pronounced fool) is a rich melting dish composed of mashed fava beans that are gently simmered all night in a large metal pot named Qedra. It should include veggies like tomato, radishes, and spring onion before serving to provide additional fiber, which can help lower ‘bad’ cholesterol by limiting its absorption in the body. Aside from the fact that it is inexpensive, it offers several health advantages due to its high fiber and protein content… Today, Ful Medames is regarded as one of the country’s national meals, as well as one of the most frequent and popular types of Egyptian street cuisine, generally consumed for breakfast. According to certain historians, Ful Medames dates all the way back to Ancient Egypt.
While Ta’ameya or Egyptian falafel is made of crushed fava beans that are later mixed and made into a paste then fried. Although it is cheap, it tastes so good. It’s like the poor people’s burger. It’s quite common in the breakfast like Ful Medames. It is best served with local bread, tomato, onions, and tahini sauce.
Restaurants serving Ful Medames & Ta’ameya are spread across all over Egypt. It could be served as well on street food carts.
2 – Shish Kabab & Kofta:
Shish kebab or Seekh kebab may seem Turkish, but it is actually Egyptian and was brought to Turkey by the Ottomans during their occupation of Egypt. Shish kebab is a meal that comprises juicy pieces of seasoned meat grilled on a skewer over the fire. It is typically prepared from lamb, but there are other variants produced from beef or veal. While Kofta is minced beef combined with spices and parsley that is formed into a finger shape and placed on metal skewers before being cooked over hot coals. Both are typically served with bread and a variety of green salads and dips, the most common of which being Tahini and Baba Ghanoush.
3 – Kushari
The Kushari dish is a combination of rice, spaghetti or macaroni, and black lentils, covered with a spicy tomato sauce and garnished with chickpeas and crispy fried onions. Optional garnishes include garlic juice or garlic vinegar and spicy sauce. The dish includes a lot of ingredients, but it tastes great and is inexpensive; it is possibly Egypt’s second most popular cuisine after Ful and Ta’ameya. The Egyptian streets are teeming with eateries that serve Kushari, which may be served at any time of day.
4 – Shawerma:
Shawerma is a famous shredded meat sandwich that originated in Egypt. In restaurants, lamb, chicken, turkey, beef, veal, or mixed meat is put on a vertical spit and cooked for up to a day. The block of meat is sliced into shavings for serving, while the remainder of the block of meat is kept warm on the revolving spit. Shawerma can be eaten as a plate, sandwich, or wrap. Shawarma is traditionally served with tomato, sliced onions, and pickled veggies. Tahini, hummus, and baba ghanoush are among the toppings. Shawerma quickly rose to prominence as one of the world’s most popular street meals. It was available in fast food establishments.
5 – Mahshi:
Mahshi is a beloved meal among Egyptians of all sizes! When prepared with minimal amounts of butter or oil, it’s a highly healthy dish. It’s also a delectable vegetarian dinner. Mahshi is served as a salad at tourist restaurants!
The stuffing for this dish is prepared of rice and seasoned with crushed red tomatoes, onion, parsley, dill, salt, pepper, and spices before being placed inside cored vegetables such as green bell peppers, aubergines, courgette, tomatoes, or grape and cabbage leaves. They’re then put in a saucepan with chicken or beef broth on top. It is generally served with beef, lamb, or chicken.
This famous meal is widespread throughout the Mediterranean, but the Egyptian version is the finest. This dish may be found in restaurants that serve Asian cuisine.
6 – Fattah:
A base of fried small bread pieces combined with garlicky vinegar dipping sauce is coated with a layer of rice prepared with veal broth or lamb broth and garnished with a spicy tomato sauce in the Fattah dish. This one is used particularly at Muslim festivities and even some Christian feasts, but it can also be offered on regular days. In addition, big chunks of stewed beef are served alongside the Fattah, especially during Eid EL Adha (Muslim religious feast) and Easter for Christians. It is a meal that everyone who visits Egypt should try since it is delicious and satisfying. It is available at restaurants serving oriental cuisine throughout Egypt.
7 – Hawawshi:
Hawawshi is a meal that everyone should try. Before baking in a wood oven, spiced minced meat and onions fill the inside of the Arabic bread wrapper. Hawawshi’s talented artisans roast the sandwich in a wood oven that crisps the bread so perfectly that you’d think it was deep-fried from the crispiness of the outside bread. It’s typically eaten with pickled veggies.
Hawawshi can now be stuffed with sausage or pastrami instead of minced meat. Nowadays, most butchers produce Hawawshi at their shops, and it is also made at home. It’s really tasty, and everyone will feel full after eating it.
8 – Stuffed Pigeon:
For generations, Egyptian Hamam Mahshi, or stuffed pigeon, has been served. Many civilizations, notably the Egyptians, like pigeon meat. Along the Nile, it is not unusual to find mud-brick lofts with birds on the roofs. The birds are packed with an unusual grain known as Freeke, which is cracked green wheat with a nutty taste. Rice or bulgur might also be utilized. If you want a Pigeon stuffed with Freeke, you need to order it ahead of time.
The Egyptian pigeon is a wonderful dark meat bird that must be cooked carefully to avoid overcooking. This delicious and sensual meal is traditionally offered to the bride and groom on wedding nights.
9 – Baba Ganoush:
It is a side dish similar to tahini salad that Egyptians enjoy with their dinner, lunch, and even breakfast. It’s created with grilled aubergines that have been scrapped and crushed, then mixed with Tahini, lemon juice, pepper, salt, parsley, cumin, and olive oil. It has a pleasant flavor and is frequently served with fish, Fattah, or Shawarma. It is also best eaten with freshly baked bread. It is delectable and gives individuals a strong desire to eat.
10 – Mulukhiyah:
This is a soup prepared from mallow leaves, and it is one of the Egyptians’ favorite foods. It is difficult to like at first. It has a thick, viscous texture and is green in hue. Egyptians eat it with rabbit or lamb as meat. The meal was so unappealing to Fatimid Sultan Hakim that he ordered it outlawed in the 11th century.
Egypt Fun Tours provides a Food Tour to one of the local Egyptian homes to sample authentic Egyptian food prepared by an Egyptian housewife.
