Traditional food in Egypt | Egyptian culture and food traditions

• 16 / 5 / 2023

Traditional food in Egypt

The different types of food around the world have been associated with each country's civilized and cultural nature, and the components of famous dishes in each country vary according to the geographical and climatic nature.

Famous dishes in Egypt

The components of Egyptian dishes vary between wheat flour, rice, and other starches and grains, in addition to meat and fish. These dishes are also rich in fat. The following are the 10 most famous Egyptian dishes that you must try when visiting Egypt:

Koshary:
Koshary is considered one of the most prominent Egyptian popular dishes, but rather one of the national dishes that enjoys widespread in Egypt and great fame around the world, in addition to its simple cost, which makes it one of the main dishes for the different social classes in Egypt.

The ingredients of the dish include pasta, rice, lentils, sauce, crispy onions, and garlic flour. The history of this dish dates back more than 100 years, as the idea appeared during the British occupation of Egypt, and this dish is characterized by the diversity of its ingredients and its delicious and different taste. The word Koshary, is derived from the Sanskrit language and means: rice with other things.

Foul:
Foul has pharaonic origins, and the Egyptians presented it in different ways, including (bean with garlic and lemon juice, with butter, tomato sauce, or tahini, with pastrami, or boiled and fried eggs). It is the first popular dish in Egypt.

When you visit Egypt, you will find Foul and Falafel restaurants everywhere you go, whether in popular areas or new urban areas, thus representing the official breakfast in Egypt.

Flaxseed oil) with tahini, pastrami, or sausage, in addition to falafel or falafel in the Egyptian dialect, whose main ingredient is beans as well as some appetizers such as pickled carrots, eggplant, and green salad. Tourists prefer eating beans from street carts due to the preparation of the dish with a distinctive taste.

Fatteh:
The main dish in the Egyptian celebrations of holidays, the family members gather around it in great happiness. “Pharaohs in the rocks have signs and there is a Fattah violin.” They are the first to make “Fattah”, which was given this name because it is cooked from Crumbs.” The crumb was occupied by the kings’ tables, because they considered it a high-level eater,

because of the bread and meat it contained, and they are the basis of the right food for them. It is a dish of Nubian origin,

characterized by its richness, as it consists of two layers of rice and bread with soup and the accuracy of vinegar and garlic. The dish is decorated with pieces of meat. The recipes for this dish vary between lamb, cattle, koreya or maqadam, akkawi, and other delicious recipes.

The modern Fatimid era was the golden age for the spread of “Fattah” food, and the reason for this was that the Fatimid kings at the time slaughtered a large number of sacrifices on the first day of Eid al-Adha, and they ordered the chefs to cook the Fattah dishes and distribute them to the common people, to celebrate that occasion.

Mukhiya

Mulukhiya, as the Fatimids called it, is considered one of the popular dishes in Egypt. It dates back to the Pharaonic era, when the mallow plant grew on the banks of the Nile, and the Fatimids called it royalism because it was considered the kings' eater at that time, and the recipes of this delicious food vary in various cities.

Egyptian culture and food traditions

And the governorates in Egypt, where some cook it with rabbits, which is the most famous recipe, while others prepare it with chicken or meat, while others cook it with shrimp and fish broth.

It is said that mallow was called by this name after the Hyksos spread the news of the danger of the mallow plant due to its toxins, and from here the word “khiya” which means “poison” was launched. They forced the Egyptians to eat it, and it won their admiration and did not kill them.

Another narration says that its name is due to the desire of the ruling sultan, by the command of God, to deprive his people of eating it, after a doctor advised him to take it to treat stomach pain, and after his recovery, he prevented the Egyptians from eating it, to be unique with it alone, so he called it “royalty” until it developed The name for its current status.

Fesikh:
Fesikh is considered one of the most famous dishes in Egypt, which is closely related to spring celebrations and Egyptian holidays.

The origin of this dish dates back to the Pharaonic era. This dish consists of salted mullet fish, dried in the sun, then placed inside containers of thick glass and closed tightly for storage. Some other smoked and salted fish such as herring and sardines served with vinegar, tahini, onions, and lemon, and it is preferable to eat it with caution because it may lead to some cases of poisoning, however, it is one of the favorite foods of the Egyptians, especially on holidays.

Finally, we hope you enjoyed our insightful work, and if you would like to book an Egypt tour, please see the links below...