The delicious Egyptian cuisine is characterized by fresh ingredients, intense flavours and a rich culinary tradition:
Koshari is considered the Egyptian national dish. It consists of a mixture of rice, lentils and noodles, garnished with tomato sauce and caramelized onions.
Ful Medames is traditionally eaten for breakfast in Egypt. It consists of cooked, seasoned and mashed fava beans and is often served with garlic, lemon and olive oil.
Molokhia is a green vegetable soup made from the molokhia plant. It is often eaten with rice or flatbread and can also be served with meat or poultry.
Falafel are deep-fried balls made from pureed chickpeas or beans. This specialty is well-known beyond the country's borders. Falafels are often rolled in flatbread or enjoyed with vegetables and sauces as a side dish.
Mezze are a selection of starters. They include hummus, baba ganoush (grilled eggplant puree), olives, pickled vegetables and flatbread.
Typical desserts in Egypt include Basbousa (semolina cake with sugar syrup), Kunafa (stuffed pastry with cheese) and Aish El Saraya (bread with milk and sugar syrup).
Tea, especially black tea, is widespread and is often drunk with fresh mint. Arabic coffee, strong and flavored with spices such as cardamom, is also very popular in Egypt.
Egyptian cuisine uses a variety of spices and herbs such as coriander, cumin, garlic, cinnamon and pepper to give dishes a distinctive flavor.
