**Koshary: A Journey Through Egypt's Culinary Heritage**
Koshary, Egypt's national dish, is a delightful symphony of flavors and textures that has captured the hearts of food enthusiasts worldwide. This delectable dish, believed to have originated in the 19th century, showcases Egypt's rich culinary heritage, blending Egyptian, Levantine, and European influences into a harmonious masterpiece. Koshary is a hearty and comforting meal, typically consisting of rice, macaroni, and lentils, topped with a tangy tomato sauce, crispy fried onions, and a sprinkling of garlic vinegar. The contrasting textures of the soft rice and macaroni, the al dente lentils, and the crunchy fried onions create a delightful symphony in every bite. The tangy tomato sauce adds a burst of flavor, while the garlic vinegar imparts a subtle sharpness that balances the richness of the dish. Koshary is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or as a side. It is commonly served with accompaniments such as hard-boiled eggs, pickled turnips, and tahini sauce, allowing diners to customize their culinary experience. This article presents two variations of this iconic dish: the classic Koshary recipe and a delightful vegetarian version, ensuring that everyone can savor the wonders of this Egyptian treasure.
KOSHARY
Koshary is pretty much Egypt's staple street food. You can find anything from a 2-story koshary restaurant to a man with a cart on the side of the street. It has no meat, but even the biggest of carnivores don't miss it. Filling and healthy, come see Egypt's most famous dish! Instead of French-fried onions, I use my black pepper onion rings on here. I also caramelize about 4 large onions in butter and brown sugar for about 45 minutes and have both kinds of onion on there. It really makes it over the top, but a little too much to call it the real street food of Egypt, more like the home-style kind. I hope you enjoy!
Provided by nooney
Categories World Cuisine Recipes African North African Egyptian
Time 1h20m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Combine the chickpeas, vinegar, coriander, cayenne pepper, and cumin in a resealable bag or container with a tight-fitting lid. Store in refrigerator while prepping remainder of dish, shaking occasionally.
- Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Cook the ditalani pasta in the boiling water until cooked through yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain and set aside.
- Combine the rice with enough cold water to cover; allow to soak for 20 minutes. Drain.
- Meanwhile, combine the lentils with enough water to cover in a pot; season with salt and pepper. Bring the lentils to a boil and cook at a boil until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain.
- Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat; cook and stir the onion and garlic in the hot oil until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, reduce heat to medium-low, and maintain at a simmer while preparing remainder of dish.
- Melt the butter in a pot over medium-high heat. Add the rice to the butter, increase heat to high, and fry for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour the chicken stock over the rice; bring to a boil. Season the rice mixture with salt and pepper, reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and cook until rice is tender, and the liquid has been absorbed, about 20 minutes.
- Mix the rice and lentils together on a large serving platter. Spread the cooked ditalani over the rice and lentil mixture. Serve with the marinated chickpeas, the tomato sauce, and the French-fried onions as condiments.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 497.6 calories, Carbohydrate 84 g, Cholesterol 4.1 mg, Fat 10.4 g, Fiber 12.7 g, Protein 17.6 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 796.7 mg, Sugar 3.8 g
EGYPTIAN KOSHARY
Steps:
- Fried onions: Chop 2 large onions Fry in 1/4 cup of hot oil until brown & crispy Drain on paper towel Base: Cook the lentils, rice, macaroni (toss macaroni with tbsp oil and some salt) . Open and drain can of chick peas and rinse. Mix all 4 ingredients (above) set aside and keep warm. Tomato Sauce: Stir-fry in 2 tbsp of : 1 (chopped up) onion 3 (minced) garlic cloves When cooked, add: Add two cans of whole tomatoes Add a cup of water and simmer for about 15 minutes. Blend the sauce until smooth and put back on heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add Salt & pepper to taste Side sauces:(can be prepared the day before no heating needed) Hot paprika Sauce: Heat 3 spoons of oil in a small pan Remove from heat Mix in 2 tsp of hot Paprika Add 3 large spoons of tomato sauce (which you already prepared) Serve in small bowl on the side Garlic Lemon Sauce: Mix 3 minced garlic cloves 1/8 cup white vinegar Lemon juice 1 tsp cumin powder 1 tsp coriander powder Serve in small bowl on the side Serve: Put the rice and lentil mixture in dishes Put a large spoonful of tomato sauce Sprinkle fried onions over it Serve with side sauces
EGYPTIAN KOSHARY
This recipe is one of the most famous recipes in Egypt. It's a traditional food that is delicious and savory.
Provided by suzan.s
Categories World Cuisine Recipes African North African Egyptian
Time 1h50m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in rice; continue stirring until rice is coated with oil, about 3 minutes. Add 3 cups water and 1 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Stir in the macaroni, and return to a boil. Cook the macaroni uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the it has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain well in a colander. Return macaroni to cooking pot, cover and keep warm.
- Soak lentils for 30 minutes. Drain and rinse; drain again. Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a pot and stir in lentils. Bring to a boil; cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer until lentils are tender 15 or 20 minutes. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt.
- Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the onions in the oil, stirring often, until they begin to brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Onions should be a nice caramelized brown color. Add garlic and cook another minute. Remove from pan, drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Place half of the onion mixture into a saucepan. Mix in the vinegar. Add the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste, black pepper, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt, cumin, and cayenne (if using). Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer about 12 minutes.
- Serve by placing a spoonful of rice, then macaroni, and then the lentils on serving plates. Sprinkle with some of the browned onions, then top with tomato sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 359.1 calories, Carbohydrate 69.2 g, Fat 3.4 g, Fiber 7.9 g, Protein 12.4 g, SaturatedFat 0.6 g, Sodium 677.2 mg, Sugar 4.8 g
KOSHARY
Categories Sauté High Fiber Dinner Winter
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Steamed Rice - cook steamed rice as usual Pasta - cook small elbow pasta as usual Brown Lintel - Bring 1 Gallon of Water to a boil and add salt. - Add 2 cups of brown lintel, lower temperature to low and continue boiling for about 1/2 hour or till soft and cooked, then drain the water. Tomato sauce - sauté garlic in oil till fragrant and just starting to brown, don't over brown it. - add vinegar and scrape garlic bits off the pan if stuck. - add tomato sauce, tomato paste, salt, pepper and hot pepper. - Lower heat to medium and cook well for about 1 hour steering frequently to keep from burning the bottom. Sautéed onion - Heat oil on high then add the onion and sauté till very dark brown. It will take more than half an hour to brown but must steer constantly to make it evenly brown. Be careful, at the end it will start burning fast - as soon as it reaches the brown color, take it out of the frying pan with a slotted spoon and on a paper towel to get rid of the extra oil. - Layer all the dish ingredients one on top of the other on every plate as shown in the picture. - You could also add a finely chopped salad of lettuce and tomato. - You could also add Tahini sauce.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. This means using fresh vegetables, lentils, and rice, as well as flavorful spices and herbs.
- Make sure to cook the lentils and rice separately until they are tender, but not mushy. This will help to ensure that they retain their shape and texture in the final dish.
- When assembling the koshary, layer the ingredients in a specific order. The lentils should go on the bottom, followed by the rice, then the macaroni, and finally the chickpeas.
- Drizzle the koshary with a generous amount of tomato sauce and garlic sauce. These sauces add flavor and moisture to the dish.
- Top the koshary with crispy fried onions for added texture and flavor. These can be made at home or purchased pre-made from the store.
Conclusion:
Koshary is a delicious and satisfying dish that is perfect for a casual meal or a special occasion. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With its combination of flavors and textures, koshary is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it.
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