When in Cairo, you must try these exquisite Egyptian delicacies, in this article you will learn everything you must eat during your visit to this Egyptian province.
Egyptian food is one of the most diverse cuisines of the world, while it has its similarities with the Mediterranean food culture and also Middle Eastern cooking influences and the concoction of these two has created one of the most cuisines of the world. Egyptian Food has something for everyone, whether you are a vegetarian or a meat lover, this diverse food culture even has the most used vegan recipes as well. To simplify their extensive food traditions we are dividing their best foods into four segments which are:
- Types of Breads
- Vegetarian and Egg Dishes
- Meat Dishes
- Desserts
Egypt has a long culinary history which started in ancient times. The rich nature of this cuisine boasts a very diverse and at the same time very elaborate food options. So, if you are visiting Egypt to experience the grandeur of the great pyramids then, these are some of the most exotic local foods that you must try while you enjoy your stay there.
- Why the food culture of Nile Valley is very diverse?
Starting from their locally grown legumes, vegetables, and fruits, this country offers some of the richest and extremely popular dishes. These dishes have been most favorite in the world. Egyptian cuisine not only offers plant-based foods, but they also indulge in fish, seafood, and meat. Hence, most of their traditional foods are vegetarian. And the reason behind their popularity in vegetarian food is the price of meat in the Egyptian province has been historically high. Meat in Egyptian cuisine mostly includes squab, chicken, duck, beef, and lamb.
While the Egyptians loved their meat to be grilled the taste of their dishes came from various spices like cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, cloves, chili peppers, parsley, bay leaves, and dill. The spices are the most used aromatics that have excelled in the taste quotient of Egyptian dishes. Apart from these, Egyptian mint tea is also prevalent in Cairo. The extreme weather of this country can be easily soothed by the cooling properties of mint. So without any further delays, let’s dive into the list that you can enjoy in the Egyptian feast.
- Traditional Egyptian Bread
Starting the list with Egyptian breads, there are mostly three types of breads, you will find in Egypt. While the Egyptian version of pita bread is their most popular bread option you cannot miss out on the other two also.
- Eish Baladi – this is their traditional form of pita bread, which goes well with most of their traditional dishes. Baladi means traditional or authentic in the local language and this term shows how greatly this bread has been incorporated into most of their dishes.
- Eish fino – this is an elongated bread roll that can be compared with a French baguette. This bread is mostly used in their sandwiches.
- Eish Shamsi – This is extremely popular bread from Upper Egypt, this type of bread can be compared to the Egyptian version of sourdough bread.
These are three dominating kinds of bread that will seamlessly accompany your exquisite Egyptian meals. Most of the Egyptian breads are made out of 100% wheat flour and are baking in their way to prepare breads.
- Vegetarian & Egg Options
Next on the queue, are the most popular Egyptian vegetarian and egg dishes that have been an integral part of Egyptian culture. Whether they have widely used legumes in their dishes, they also have popularized some of the most exquisite egg recipes as well.
- Hummus
The world has incorporated this Egyptian way of making chickpeas into their way of cooking. This simple recipe that goes well with Eish Baladi is not a great dip option for the entire world now. The savory dip is made out of mashed chickpeas combined with tahini, garlic, lemon juice with a hint of cumin in it, and olive oil. This is mostly eaten as an appetizer, the zesty recipe is mentioned in scriptures from the 13th and 14th centuries, at that time it was called Hummus Kasa, the texture of this dish was a bit chunkier at that point.
- Baba Ghanoush
This is another exotic dip from this cuisine, this dish is made out of eggplants and the recipe is originally from Lebanon. For this dish, roasted eggplant is mixed with tahini, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, herbs, and spices. The smoky flavor from roasting the eggplant is the best [art of this dish. This dip is served cold as a part of the Egyptian mezze platter with Eish Baladi.
- Ful Medames
This is regarded as the national dish of Egypt; this stew is made out of creamy fava beans cooked in olive oil with cumin, garlic, herbs, spices, and lemon juice. This is a staple of various Egyptian households and is mostly eaten with Eish Baladi. This dish has been a part of Egyptian culture since the Middle Ages.
- Koshari
This is an impressive popular street food in Cairo. This dish contains lentils, chickpeas, rice, and macaroni and as a topping, there is spiced tomato sauce and crisped fried onions. Since the 19th century, this dish has been a part of Egyptian culture.
- Molokhia
Mulukhiyah, molokheyya, or Molokhia is an Egyptian form of leafy soup. This is another traditional food that you will be served if you are invited to any local Egyptian home. This soup is made of Jute leaves. The finely chopped leaves are cooked in chicken broth with sautéed coriander and garlic. This soup has a very slimy texture mostly served with rice or Eish Baladi, alongside roasted chicken, rabbit, or any sort of seafood.
- Shakshuka
Since the first recipe of this dish was uploaded on YouTube, this dish became one of the staple weekend breakfasts of many people. These simple yet exotic flavors of tomatoes, onion, and bell peppers, with poached eggs and simple herbs elevated this dish to a great extent. This is a Maghrebi dish; this one-pot delicacy tastes a lot better when cooked in an Egyptian kitchen. So, during your stay don’t miss out on this flavorful dish with pita.
- Eggah
This Egyptian Baked Omelette offers a dense thick texture, this can be considered as the Middle-eastern version of frittata. This egg preparation is cooked with zucchini, spinach, fried onions, tomatoes, eggplant, green pepper, and leeks. And for that Egyptian touch, there will be exotic spices like cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, nutmeg, and fresh herbs.
- Ta’ameya (Egyptian Falafel)
This is another extremely popular Egyptian dish a very popular street food in Cairo. Ta’ameya is a deep-fried ball made out of fava beans, herbs, and spices. Out of various Falafel recipes, Ta’ameya is the most popular and tastiest one.
- Egyptian Meat Dishes
After this extensive list of Egyptian vegetarian and egg recipes, here you will find some great meat options that you can enjoy in Cairo. Just like the vegetarian dishes, their dishes are also extremely diverse and flavorful:
- Bamya
This simmered stew of okra and lamb is a must-try as a main dish for your extensive Egyptian cuisine. This stew is prepared with tomatoes, onion, garlic, peppers, cilantro, and native Egyptian spices. Bamya is Arabic of Okra and this is one of the most popular dishes of this country. This dish is served with rice along with squeezed lemon from the top.
- Kofta Kebab
Kofta is the Middle Eastern rendition of meatballs and this type of meatball is popular in the Middle East and also in the Mediterranean food cultures. Yet, this Egyptian style of cooking is a great way to have this. They are staying true to the core preparation style of meatballs with ground meat seasoned with native spices. In Egypt you can find various styles, but Egyptian traditional Koftas are skewered, grilled, and served hot. Spices like parsley, mint, sumac, nutmeg, cardamom, allspice, cumin, paprika, onion, and garlic bring out the flavors of this dish.
- Mombar
This is the Egyptian version of sausage made out of sheep intestines. This mixture is made out of ground beef, rice, garlic, onion, tomato paste, and native seasoning. These sausages are mostly served with traditional Egyptian golden rice.
- Shawarma
This is another native Egyptian dish that has gained worldwide recognition. This is a great and filling street food option. Even if you might have tried it in your local food joints but Egyptian traditional version of this dish is going to blow your mind. This is a wrap sandwich packed with grilled meat with onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, french fries, tahini, and paprika sauce.
- Kebda Eskandarani
This fried beef liver dish is one of the traditional Egyptian dishes that will can find anywhere in Cairo. For this dish, beef liver is fired, and flavored spices like garlic, chili peppers, cumin, and cardamom are. Typically Eskandarani is enjoyed with pita bread, rice, or as a filling of a sandwich.
Hamam Mahshi
While Pigeons are not commonly eaten in every country, for Egyptians this is a delicacy, Hamam Mahshi is a dish prepared with stuffed squab or young domestic pigeon. This stuffed and grilled squab is served with rice. This traditional dish is often found in various ceremonies and occasions.
- Makarōna Beshamel
Makarōna Beshamel is ideally the Egyptian version of pastitsio. This is a baked macaroni pasta dish made with ground meat and béchamel sauce. But for this re3ndition of this dish, the seasonings are different and it is a staple for any highly regarded Egyptian banquets and gatherings during their festive times.
- Egyptian Desserts
No menu is completed with extensive dessert options, and similar to Egyptian cuisine, you can find various exotic sweet dishes that will satisfy your gastronomic craving with the perfect balance of rich flavors infused in their traditional sweet dishes.
- Kunafa
- Baklava
- Qatayef
- Basbousa
- Ka’ak al-Eid
- Ghorayeba
- Roz Bel Laban
- Om Ali
- Sahlab
Apart from the majesty view of the great pyramids of Gaza, the native food of this country is another reason that you must visit this place. The food habits of a country are often too diverse and extensive and this article might be holding a brief synopsis of what traditional Egyptian food might feel like. To taste the most sumptuous meal in Cairo, you need to book your tickets as fast as possible.
