The first thing I will tell you about Egyptian food is that there is a lot of it...….

It is part of Egyptian hospitality and you will be given the chance to try lots of new dishes.

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For breakfast you may be offered Ful (pronounced fool) which is a traditional breakfast dish made of fava beans cooked with oil and salt. It is usually served with eggs, cheese, Ta'meya (see below) and pita bread or you can have it as a sandwich.

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Falafel (which are also called Ta'meya) are made with fava beans in Egypt but other countries often use chickpeas. After soaking overnight, the beans are crushed and mixed with chopped cilantro (coriander), parsley, white onions, leek, garlic, cumin, paprika, a little bit of cayenne, salt and pepper and rolled in chickpea flour to make balls which are then fried. 

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A traditional dish that is served in restaurants as a side and sold from street carts is Koshary (Koshari). A simple yet tasty and filling dish, it is made of rice, lentils, macaroni and chickpeas topped off with a tomato based red sauce and sometimes a sauce using garlic/chilli/vinegar. 

 

For vegetable lovers there is Mahsi which is basically a stuffed vegetable i.e. capsicum, eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes  or rolled like Greek dolmas in cabbage or vine leaves. The stuffing is rice, herbs, tomato sauce with seasonings and a touch of cinnamon. It can be a vegetarian meal as is, or minced meat can be added to the stuffing mix. 

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Another favourite local meal which is also popular in many countries is the Shawarma. Beef or chicken is used that has been marinated with Middle Eastern spices, often served as a wrap with tahini or garlic (tomaya) sauce.

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Chicken and fish are regularly on the menu and in the hotels they serve a mix of Middle Eastern and for those who prefer it, western food is also available. 

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Love your sweets, then for dessert try Konofa (Kanafeh), made with a thin noodle style pastry or fine semolina dough which has been soaked in a sweet sugary syrup and layered with cheese, or clotted cream and nuts.

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