Eating Out in Egypt: Recommendations for Every Meal

Egypt is a country rich in history, culture, and delicious cuisine. Egyptian cuisine is known for its unique flavors, aromatic spices, and hearty dishes. Whether you are a fan of meat, seafood, or vegetarian options, Egypt offers a wide range of culinary delights to satisfy every palate. In this article, we will explore the best places to eat in Egypt for every meal, from breakfast to dinner, and everything in between.

Breakfast

Start your day in Egypt with a traditional Egyptian breakfast. One popular dish is Ful Medames, which is made from fava beans cooked with garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. Another must-try breakfast item is Ta’meya, which is similar to falafel but made with fava beans instead of chickpeas. You can enjoy these dishes at local cafes or street food stalls that are scattered throughout the country.

• Ful Medames: A flavorful dish made from fava beans cooked with garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. It is often served with warm bread.
• Ta’meya: Egyptian-style fava bean falafel served with tahini sauce and salad.
• Shakshuka: A dish made of poached eggs cooked in a tomato and bell pepper sauce, spiced with cumin and chili.

Lunch

For lunch, head to one of the local restaurants or street food stalls that offer a variety of Egyptian dishes. Koshari is a popular choice, which is a vegetarian dish made with rice, lentils, chickpeas, and pasta, topped with a flavorful tomato sauce and crispy fried onions. Another delicious option is Shawarma, a Middle Eastern classic consisting of thinly sliced marinated meat (usually beef or chicken) wrapped in a pita bread with tahini sauce, pickles, and vegetables.

• Koshari: A vegetarian dish made with rice, lentils, chickpeas, and pasta, topped with tomato sauce and fried onions.
• Shawarma: Thinly sliced marinated meat wrapped in a pita bread with tahini sauce, pickles, and vegetables.
• Molokhia: A traditional Egyptian soup made from jute leaves, cooked with garlic, coriander, and often served with rice or bread.

Afternoon Snack

In the afternoon, indulge in some traditional Egyptian snacks to keep you going until dinner. One popular snack is Sambousek, which are crispy pastry triangles filled with various fillings such as cheese, meat, or spinach. Another snack to try is Feteer Meshaltet, a flaky pastry similar to a croissant, but often filled with savory or sweet fillings.

• Sambousek: Crispy pastry triangles filled with cheese, meat, or spinach.
• Feteer Meshaltet: Flaky pastry filled with savory or sweet fillings.
• Mahshi: Vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini, or grape leaves stuffed with a mixture of rice, herbs, and spices.

Dinner

For dinner, explore the local restaurants that offer a range of Egyptian specialties. One popular dish is Kebab, which consists of grilled skewers of marinated meat, usually beef or lamb, served with rice or bread. Another delicious option is Molokhia, a traditional Egyptian soup made from jute leaves, cooked with garlic, coriander, and often served with rice or bread.

• Kebab: Grilled skewers of marinated meat, usually beef or lamb, served with rice or bread.
• Molokhia: A traditional Egyptian soup made from jute leaves, cooked with garlic, coriander, and often served with rice or bread.
• Mahshi: Vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini, or grape leaves stuffed with a mixture of rice, herbs, and spices.

Street Food

Egypt is famous for its street food culture, offering a variety of flavors and dishes that are both affordable and delicious. Some popular street food options include Kushari, Hawawshi, and Foul. Kushari is a vegetarian dish made with rice, lentils, pasta, and chickpeas, topped with a flavorful tomato sauce and crispy fried onions. Hawawshi is a meat-filled pastry that is baked or grilled and often served with pickles and tahini sauce. Foul is a dish made from fava beans cooked with garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil, often served with warm bread.

• Kushari: A vegetarian dish made with rice, lentils, pasta, and chickpeas, topped with tomato sauce and fried onions.
• Hawawshi: Meat-filled pastry that is baked or grilled and often served with pickles and tahini sauce.
• Foul: Fava beans cooked with garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil, often served with warm bread.

Seafood

Egypt’s coastal regions offer a wide range of fresh seafood options. Whether you are in Alexandria or Sharm El Sheikh, you can find restaurants that serve delicious seafood dishes. Some popular seafood dishes to try include Grilled Prawns, Fish Sayadia, and Stuffed Calamari. Grilled Prawns are marinated in a flavorful blend of spices and grilled to perfection. Fish Sayadia is a dish made with rice cooked in a spiced fish broth and topped with fried fish fillets. Stuffed Calamari is a dish where calamari tubes are stuffed with a mixture of rice, herbs, and spices, then cooked in a tomato-based sauce.

• Grilled Prawns: Marinated prawns grilled to perfection, served with rice or bread.
• Fish Sayadia: Rice cooked in a spiced fish broth and topped with fried fish fillets.
• Stuffed Calamari: Calamari tubes stuffed with a mixture of rice, herbs, and spices, cooked in a tomato-based sauce.

Vegetarian/Vegan Options

Egyptian cuisine offers a variety of delicious vegetarian and vegan options. Some popular dishes include Baba Ganoush, a roasted eggplant dip, and Koshari, a vegetarian dish made with rice, lentils, chickpeas, and pasta. Another must-try dish is Mulukhiyah, a soup made from jute leaves, cooked with garlic and coriander. Many restaurants and street food stalls in Egypt cater to vegetarian and vegan diets, making it easy to find flavorful and satisfying options.

• Baba Ganoush: Roasted eggplant dip made with tahini, garlic, and lemon juice.
• Koshari: A vegetarian dish made with rice, lentils, chickpeas, and pasta, topped with tomato sauce and fried onions.
• Mulukhiyah: A soup made from jute leaves, cooked with garlic and coriander, often served with rice or bread.

Traditional Desserts

No meal in Egypt is complete without indulging in some traditional desserts. One popular dessert is Om Ali, a sweet bread pudding made with puff pastry, milk, nuts, and raisins. Another delicious option is Basbousa, a semolina cake soaked in sweet syrup and often topped with coconut flakes or nuts. Mahalabiya is a creamy pudding flavored with rosewater or orange blossom water, garnished with pistachios or almonds.

• Om Ali: Sweet bread pudding made with puff pastry, milk, nuts, and raisins.
• Basbousa: Semolina cake soaked in sweet syrup, often topped with coconut flakes or nuts.
• Mahalabiya: Creamy pudding flavored with rosewater or orange blossom water, garnished with pistachios or almonds.

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References

– Lonely Planet: www.lonelyplanet.com
– Egypt Tourism Authority: www.egypt.travel
– Food Republic: www.foodrepublic.com
– Culture Trip: www.theculturetrip.com