ExploFood · Africa
What to eat in Egypt
Five dishes to try in Egypt, the most typical first. Four are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Egypt
Koshary كشري
Rice, lentils and macaroni with spiced tomato sauce, chickpeas and fried onions.
How to have it: Order at a dedicated koshary shop in Cairo; add garlic vinegar and chilli sauce to taste.
Ful medames فول مدمس
Slow-cooked fava beans mashed with olive oil, cumin and lemon.
How to have it: The standard breakfast from street carts, scooped up with baladi bread.
Ta'ameya طعمية
Egyptian falafel made with fava beans instead of chickpeas, green with herbs.
How to have it: Best hot from morning stalls, stuffed into baladi bread with tahini and salad.
Molokhia ملوخية
Silky soup of chopped jute leaves with garlic and coriander on a meat broth.
How to have it: Eaten with rice or bread alongside chicken or rabbit; a home-style lunch dish.
Om Ali أم علي
Baked pudding of pastry soaked in sweet milk with nuts and raisins.
How to have it: Served hot in most traditional restaurants as the end to a meal.
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Questions
What food is Egypt famous for?
Koshary (rice, lentils and macaroni with spiced tomato sauce, chickpeas and fried onions) comes first on our list, followed by Ful medames, Ta'ameya, Molokhia and Om Ali.
What is the national dish of Egypt?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Egypt is Koshary: rice, lentils and macaroni with spiced tomato sauce, chickpeas and fried onions. Order at a dedicated koshary shop in Cairo; add garlic vinegar and chilli sauce to taste.
Which dishes in Egypt are vegetarian?
Four of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Koshary, Ful medames, Ta'ameya and Om Ali. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Egypt?
Koshary (rice, lentils and macaroni with spiced tomato sauce, chickpeas and fried onions) and Ta'ameya (egyptian falafel made with fava beans instead of chickpeas, green with herbs).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Tick off every dish you try in Egypt
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.