Egyptian Koshari Recipe | The Mediterranean Dish (2024)

Koshari Recipe: Egyptian comfort bowl of lentils, rice, chickpeas, with a special tomato sauce and savory crispyonions on top! SKIP TO RECIPE

Egyptian Koshari Recipe | The Mediterranean Dish (1)

Koshari is a fun word to say, isn't it?

Koshari (also spelled, Kushari) is the national dish of my birthplace, Egypt. By far one of my favorite things to eat--EVER! No matter how far I've traveled, I will always crave a humble bowl of koshari as served in the streets of Egypt.

Egyptian Koshari Recipe | The Mediterranean Dish (2)

What is Koshari?

Koshri is another one of those genius solutions to using up pantry staples. It is a cousin to the Middle Eastern Mujadara. In a nutshell, it is a comforting bowl of simple pantry staples: spiced lentils and rice, combined with chickpeas and small pasta. All smothered in a tomato sauce that's been spiked with vinegar (out-of-this-world tasty, by the way!) Then...wait for it...it's topped with savory, crispy thin fried onion rings.

Egyptian Koshari Recipe | The Mediterranean Dish (3)

Although this koshari recipe takes some time to put together, each element is fairly simple to make.

It may not look like much, but this Egyptian comfort food has every bit a satisfying depth and texture to it. It'll have you coming back for more!

What to Serve with Koshari?

At home, koshari is served family-style with additional tomato sauce and crispy onion rings to pass! To complete the meal, I typically add a side of this quick 3- ingredient Mediterranean salad dressed simply in olive oil and lemon juice.

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Egyptian Koshari Recipe | The Mediterranean Dish (4)

Koshari Recipe

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4.9 from 47 reviews

  • Author: The Mediterranean Dish
  • Total Time: 1 hours 22 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 1x
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Description

Koshari is a traditional Egyptian staple, mixing chick peas, pasta, fried onions, and zesty tomato sauce, served on top a bed of rice and brown lentils! Flavor packed and not to mention healthy!

Ingredients

Scale

For the Crispy Onion Topping

  • 1 large onion, sliced into thin rings
  • Salt
  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup cooking oil

For Tomato Sauce

  • Cooking oil
  • 1 small onion, grated
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • ½ -1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 can 28-oz tomato sauce
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1-2 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

For Koshari

  • 1 ½ cup brown lentils, picked over and well-rinsed
  • 1 ½ cup medium-grain rice, rinsed, soaked in water for 15 minutes, drained
  • ½ tsp each salt and pepper
  • ½ tsp coriander
  • 2 cups elbow pasta
  • Cooking oil
  • Water
  • 1 15-oz can chickpeas, rinsed, drained and warmed

Instructions

Make the crispy onion topping.

  • Sprinkle the onion rings with salt, then toss them in the flour to coat. Shake off excess flour.
  • In a large skillet, heat the cooking oil over medium-high heat, cook the onion rings, stirring often, until they turn a nice caramelized brown. Onions must be crispy, but not burned (15-20 minutes).

Make the Tomato Sauce.

  • In a saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon cooking oil. Add the grated onion, cook on medium-high until the onion turns a translucent gold (do not brown). Now add the garlic, coriander, and red pepper flakes, if using, and saute briefly until fragrant (30-45 seconds more).
  • Stir in tomato sauce and pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens (15 minutes or so).
  • Stir in the distilled white vinegar, and turn the heat to low. Cover and keep warm until ready to serve.

Make the Koshari

  • Cook the lentils.Bring lentils and 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium pot or saucepan over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and cook until lentils are just tender (15-17 minutes). Drain from water and season with a little salt.(Note: when the lentils are ready, they should not be fully cooked. They should be only par-cooked andstill have a bite to them as they need to finish cooking with the rice).
  • Now, for the rice. Drain the rice from its soaking water. Combine the par-cooked lentils and the rice in the saucepan over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon cooking oil, salt, pepper, and coriander. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring regularly. Add warm water to cover the rice and lentil mixture by about 1 ½ inches (you'll probably use about 3 cups of water here). Bring to a boil; the water should reduce a bit. Now cover and cook until all the liquid has been absorbed and both the rice and lentils are well cooked through (about 20 minutes). Keep covered and undisturbed for 5 minutes or so.
  • Now make the pasta. While the rice and lentils are cooking, make the pasta according to package instructions by adding the elbow pasta to boiling water with a dash of salt and a little oil. Cook until the pasta is al dente. Drain.
  • Cover the chickpeas and warm in the microwave briefly before serving.

Put it All Together!

  • To serve, fluff the rice and lentils with a fork and transfer to a serving platter. Top with the elbow pasta and ½ of the tomato sauce, then the chickpeas, and finally ½ of the crispy onions for garnish. Serve, passing the remaining sauce and crispy onions separately.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hours 7 minutes
  • Category: Vegetarian
  • Cuisine: Egyptian

Nutrition

  • Calories: 0
  • Sugar: 0 g
  • Sodium: 0 mg
  • Fat: 0 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 0 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 0 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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Egyptian Koshari Recipe | The Mediterranean Dish (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients of Koshari? ›

Koshary
TypeMixed macaroni dish
Serving temperatureWarm or Hot
Main ingredientsRice, lentils, macaroni, Vermicelli, tomato sauce, vegetable oil, onions, cumin, coriander
VariationsChickpeas, Hot sauce, Garlic juice, Vinegar, Short spaghetti
3 more rows

Is Egyptian koshari healthy? ›

By opting for nutrient-dense meals like koshari, you can ensure that your body is getting the necessary vitamins and minerals while on a weight loss journey. Balanced meal: Koshari provides a well-rounded balance of macronutrients, including carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats.

What is the difference between Mujadara and Koshari? ›

You can think of Koshari as the older, more elaborate cousin of Mujaddara. Mujaddara is a Levantine dish that also has a base of lentils and rice, but it stops there. Egyptian Koshari has more components with the pasta, chickpeas, tomato sauce and vinegar sauce.

What is the difference between khichdi and Koshari? ›

Khichri is also thought to be the ancestor of Egypt's national dish, koshary, which is made with rice, lentils and macaroni.

Why is koshari so good? ›

Fried Onions – An absolute must. It's the base of every step of this Koshary. Not only that but the oil is used in every step as well. The reasoning is the oil has a deep onion flavor, which gives a nice flavor boost to the rice and lentils, and the tomato sauce.

What is the safest food to eat in Egypt? ›

where possible, avoid eating salads and uncooked vegetables. only eat fruit they can peel. avoid unpasteurised milk, cheese and ice cream. avoid food that has been left uncovered in warm environments and exposed to flies.

What is the Egyptian super food? ›

Probably the most nutritionally dense plant on the planet, Molokhia is the food of ancient Egyptian kings and Pharoahs. Otherwise known as the Jute plant, this leafy green is loaded with over 32 vitamins and minerals!

Is it safe to eat raw vegetables in Egypt? ›

Eating thoroughly cooked meat and vegetables in tourist hotels, on Nile River cruise ships, and in tourist restaurants is generally safe. Eating raw or undercooked ground meat or shellfish should be avoided. As in many developing countries, the safety of uncooked vegetables and salads is questionable.

What is Egypt's national dish? ›

Koshari (also spelled Koshary or Kushari) is the national dish of Egypt. It's served in virtually every Egyptian restaurant, in every Egyptian home, and on every Egyptian street corner. Street vendors serve the dish from carts to people eagerly waiting in line to eat this beloved and highly popular dish.

What are the three types of lentils? ›

There are four main categories of lentils: brown, green, red/yellow, and specialty. Brown lentils are the most common variety – any bag in the grocery store that says “lentils” without any other descriptor is most likely full of brown lentils.

What is similar to Egyptian rice? ›

The most common variety of rice we eat is a type that resembles American medium-grain. The second most popular variety is Egyptian rice, which is similar to a short-grain Spanish variety, like Arborio or Baldo. Egyptian rice is stickier than American medium-grain, and is absolutely delicious eaten just plain!

What is khichdi called in America? ›

Kichri is a salty porridge. The Anglo-Indian dish Kedgeree is thought to derive from khichri. India has designated it as the "National dish", as it is being globally promoted by the Government of India as "Queen of all Foods". Khichdi served in bowl.

How many calories are in a bowl of koshari? ›

Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Calories315
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7.5g9%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
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Jun 19, 2024

What is the British word for khichdi? ›

Kedgeree is a traditional British dish whose roots go back to colonial India. Mainly served at breakfast, kedgeree is made from rice, eggs, smoked fish, and curry powder. Kedgeree evolved from a well-known Indian dish called kitchari or khichdi, a mixture of rice and lentils flavored with toasted spices.

What are the traditional ingredients in Egypt? ›

Cumin is the most commonly used spice. Other common spices include coriander, cardamom, chili, aniseed, bay leaves, dill, parsley, ginger, cinnamon, mint and cloves. Common meats featured in Egyptian cuisine are pigeon, chicken and duck. These are often boiled to make the broth for various stews and soups.

Is koshari Egyptian or Indian? ›

Koshari (also spelled Koshary or Kushari) is the national dish of Egypt. It's served in virtually every Egyptian restaurant, in every Egyptian home, and on every Egyptian street corner.

What do Egyptians eat for breakfast? ›

One popular traditional breakfast dish is ful medames, which is made from cooked fava beans seasoned with garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. It is often served with Egyptian bread known as baladi bread, which is a type of flatbread made from whole wheat flour.

What is Egyptian green soup made of? ›

Molokhia is an iconic Egyptian soup made of jute mallow leaves from which the dish gets its name. Those leaves are cooked in a rich chicken broth and flavored with tasha, a fragrant garlic-coriander paste fried in ghee, until velvety.

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