Egypt food guide

Some tourist attractions are so iconic that they’ve become synonymous with the country they’re in. In Egypt, that one iconic attraction will always be the Great Pyramid of Giza. Thanks to the pyramids, Egypt is a bucket list destination for many travelers, like myself. However, the one draw that’s often overlooked is Egyptian food. I always love to try the traditional cuisine in the countries I visit. Being my first time in Egypt, I was very excited to taste as many dishes as I can. I put together an Egypt food guide in case you too are concerned about what to eat during your upcoming vacation in the Land of the Pharaohs.

Aish Baladi

Aish baladi is the Egyptian version of pita bread. Not only is it an important part of the meal itself, but it often serves as a utensil. I was surprised when I didn’t receive any cutlery with my meal. Everyone was eating with their bare hands, using the bread. It is made with 100% whole wheat flour baked at extremely hot temperatures. It’s baked several times a day and eaten at every meal. You never have to settle for stale bread in Egypt.

Ful Medames

Egyptian food gives vegetarians plenty to look forward to and ful medames may be one of the most delicious ones yet. Legend has it that this ancient Egyptian dish is as old as the Pharaohs. Ful Mudammas is a classic breakfast dish and popular street food in Egypt that’s eaten at any time of day. An Egyptian national dish, it refers to a stew of creamy fava beans. They are cooked with cumin, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, herbs, and spices.

Falafel

No Egypt food guide can be complete without falafel (or ta’ameya). Falafel is typically thought of as a Middle Eastern food. However, Egypt has its own version using dried fava beans rather than dried chickpeas. A medley of fresh herbs – parsley, dill and cilantro, onion, garlic, ground cumin and coriander – round out the ingredients list. Fava bean balls can be rolled in sesame seeds after frying. Pita bread (of course) makes for a perfect accompaniment as does tahini. Ta’ameya may be plated alongside a tomato and cucumber salad.

Koshary

A go-to street food, koshary is regularly deemed the national dish of Egypt. This hearty hodge-podge of lentils, chickpeas, rice, macaroni, tomato sauce and fried onions sates even the most voracious appetites. Though koshary is frequently seen on tables in Arab homes around the world, it’s been a favored street food in Egypt for decades. Initially, it was sold from street carts in Egypt and was popular mainly among workers and laborers. It would later be introduced to restaurants and has now become one of the most beloved comfort foods in Egypt. I tried koshary on the Nile River Cruise.

Molokhia

Molokhia refers to both the Egyptian soup and the leafy vegetable used to make it. Like ful medames and koshari, it’s classic comfort food in Egypt. It is also considered by many to be an Egyptian national dish. Molokhia is made with the leaves of the Corchorus plant, a leafy shrub commonly known as mallow or nalta jute. For me, it tasted very similar to spinach. Aside from Egypt, it’s used in the cuisines of many other countries like Tunisia, Kenya, Haiti, and the Philippines.

Mahshi

To prepare traditional Mahshi in Cairo, chefs typically stuff seasoned rice into grape leaves. Then, they cook them in a savory tomato sauce. However, others stuff the rice mixture into vegetables like peppers, cabbage and eggplant before cooking the stuffed vegetables in meat broth to achieve a rich flavor.

Fatteh

This ancient Arab dish is often eaten during celebrations and feasts such as Ramadan, weddings and baby births. Fatteh uses fresh or toasted flatbread cut into wedges as the foundation. Then it’s layered with meat, rice, onion, garlic, spices, yogurt, zesty tomato sauce, and on occasion, eggplant. Fatteh is finished with a speckle of pine nuts for texture. Once complete and presented on a platter, it looks similar to nachos with the pita wedges replacing tortilla chips. This was in my opinion one of the best foods I tried while staying in Egypt.

Kunafa

Kunafa is one of my all-time favorite desserts, not just in Egyptian cuisine but anywhere. It refers to a luscious Middle Eastern dessert made with layers of shredded phyllo pastry and milky sweet cheese. The dessert is soaked in simple syrup infused with rose water and often topped with crushed pistachios and clotted cream.

Whatever your food of choice is, make sure to ask the locals about where to get it. Egyptians know way more than visitors do about what constitutes good food and what doesn’t. They are also very much aware of things like prices. So, if you order food from a place which is popular with the locals, you will almost certainly receive good food at a good price too. This doesn’t only apply to restaurants, but also to sidewalk cafes and the various different eateries you will find in the bazaars and markets, throughout the entire country. If you liked this Egypt food guide make sure to check out my post about Do’s and Don’ts to be well prepared for your vacation.