RECIPES from EGYPT  

 

                   
Kahwa bel habahan
Kahwa
bel habahan
Fig date cake
Fig date cake
Koshary
Koshari
Baba ghanouj
Baba ghanouj
Falafel
Falafel
Pita bread
Pita bread
Ful medamis
Ful medamis
Om ali
Om ali
 
 

Beed wel tamatim
Beed wel
tamatim

Sweet couscous
Sweet
couscous
Warak einab
Warak einab
Egyptian broth
Egyptian broth
Basboosa
Basboosa

 

Stuffed tomatoes
Stuffed
tomato
es
Dukka
Dukka
   
  Musaqqa'a
Musaqqa'a
Bamia
Bamia
Sayadiya
Sayadiah

Baharat
Honey cookies
Honey
cookies
Beid hamine
Beid
hamine
Cucumber feta salad
Cucumber
feta salad
 

Like in many other countries, Egyptian cooking has evolved in the presence of many foreign nations (Turks, French, English, Romans) and they all had their influence. The Turkish and Egyptian kitchen share a lot of similar recipes. Some people recognize recipes as coming from Morocco, others think some Egyptian favorites originate in Palestine.
The fact that there were many nomadic tribes has also shaped the Egyptian cooking. Not only did the nomads come into contact with many different people, they had to use ingredients that were easily transportable, like rice, pasta, beans, dates and apricots, and animals like goats. Egyptian cooking uses spices like cumin, aniseed, cardamom and cinnamon but not a lot of hot spices.
Pita bread is part of almost every meal and also beans or lentils appear often on the menu. Beans (ful medamis) are even a popular breakfast dish. The best bread is said to be Shamsi (sun bread), and this is only baked and sold in Upper Egypt, so I looked for it in vain in Cairo. The bread derives it name from the fact that it rises on the hot sand in the sun. Chicken and (stuffed) pigeon are popular, as are mutton and buffalo.
Egyptians also have some special drinks: they like sugar cane juice and fresh fruit juices; ir'sus is very popular, which is a drink made out of liquorice powder or threads. It is said to have an energetic effect (like coffee) and it is not advised for people with a high blood pressure. People love to drink tea, mostly served very sweet, and coffee is widely available, but the choice is usually between instant coffee (called Nescafe) and Arabian Coffee, small cups of  brewed, sweet coffee which you can almost chew. Another thing people drink is karkade, that is (mostly sweetened) hibiscus tea, cold or hot.