List Of Egyptian Foods

Egypt's favorite foods go back generations and helped build the pyramids.

Egyptians have a traditional set of foods that go back to the ancients and are still enjoyed in Egypt today. Some of these ancient foods were even among the elements that went into building the stones for the pyramids. Through the centuries, many of these foods have evolved into more modern uses and employed into a variety of delicious dishes. Beverages, however, have changed somewhat due to religious reasons.

Pita Bread

According to the World Food and Wine website, Egypt was probably making leavened bread in the earliest times of their civilizations. Through the centuries, it evolved and eventually was formed into pita bread, which is still very popular. Pita bread is a common food to eat for lunch in today's Egypt. Typically, the spread on the pita bread is hummus. This spread is also very popular in Egypt and is made with chickpeas, tahini (or sesame paste) and with lemon juice and other flavorings. An even more popular pita bread concoction is falafel, which is essentially a patty made of chickpeas and herbs.

Kebabs

Another ancient tradition in Egypt is kebabs, or a long stick containing bite-sized pieces of various meats and vegetables grilled over a fire. The most popular meats on an Egyptian kebab are marinated lamb or chicken. Prepare these by cutting up the chicken or lamb into approximately 16 squares. It's a popular choice to mix the meat with yogurt, salt and spices such as tumeric, curry powder or vinegar. On the kebab, Egyptians usually combine the meat with pieces of onion or tomato.

Egyptian Fruits

Despite Egypt's dry climate, there are plenty of fruits grown in the region. These fruits include all the typical fruits we see here in America, except Egyptians give them different names. Bananas are mohz, oranges are burtu'aan, peaches are khukh, and grapes are 'anub.

Koushari

This popular vegetarian dish is a good alternative to all other Egyptian recipes utilizing meat. It's a dish using lentils, chickpeas, macaroni and rice, all combined in a tomato sauce. Onion and garlic flavorings are used to add more interesting flavor. Typically served for dinner, koushari is typically accompanied by pita bread.

Desserts

For dessert, a typical Egyptian family will usually serve baklava, which is a flaky pastry filled with honey. Also typical are basbousa, or a cake filled with cream. Also try konafa, which is a batter thoroughly cooked and mixed with a variety of nuts.

Drinks

Ancient Egypt once loved beer and made it often. But when the Muslim conquest overtook Egypt, beer became pass . Today, you likely will see mint tea, or shai, consumed frequently as an after-dinner drink. Earlier in the day, expect to drink a lot of strong coffee that's popular in myriad coffee shops around the country. Another popular drink during the day is sahleb that's a concoction made of milk, wheat and chopped nuts.

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