Explore Egyptian Food: 12 Must-Try Dishes in Egypt

Egypt has an extensive culinary history that stretches back millennia. Cairo’s varied food offers visitors a lot to look forward to, especially those who favour vegetarianism. 

Though the country’s main attraction, the pyramids, isn’t the most well-known Egyptian cuisine, our purpose is to inform you about the mouthwatering (to put it mildly) foods that are easily found in Egypt! Similar to other nations, food plays a significant role in Egyptian culture.

From north to south, you can discover distinct versions of the same dish anywhere throughout Egypt, with local variations that incorporate regional flavours. They sound enticingly delicious, don’t they? You’ll return for more of the delectable classic Egyptian fare like koshari, falafel, ful medames, and shawarma.

You can travel on Nile Air to explore Egyptian cuisine. The airline offers flights to over 20 locations in seven Middle Eastern, African, and European countries, including Egypt. As a regional airline serving worldwide locations in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, it continuously aims to expand its domestic routes within Egypt.

Traditionally, what is the food of Egypt? Egyptian cuisine largely uses fruits, vegetables, and legumes that are farmed in Egypt’s fertile Nile Delta and Valley. 

Egypt’s best traditional food

This Egyptian dietary guide has been arranged into categories for ease of use. To navigate to any area of the guide, click on the link. 

Aisha Baladi 

The Egyptian equivalent of pita bread is called aish baladi, or eish baladi. Made with only whole wheat flour, it is baked at a very high temperature. It is cooked many times a day and served with every meal, to guarantee that visitors never have to search for stale bread when visiting.

The Egyptian pita bread is called aish baladi, or eish baladi. It is made with whole wheat flour, and baked at a very high temperature. You can never settle for stale bread in Egypt because it’s cooked multiple times a day and served at every meal.

This type of flatbread is customarily prepared and dates back to the ancient Egyptians. Emmer wheat, an ancient agricultural product, was used to create it. Wild yeast is used to help raise the dough, and traditional Egyptian clay ovens made of red Nile River clay would be used to bake the bread. 

Ful Wa Ta Meya

For generations, people have been enjoying the delectable and well-known Egyptian street meal known as Ful Wa Ta Meya. The two primary ingredients of this cuisine are Ta’ameya, which are falafel-like patties that consist of herbs and spices, and Ful, which is mashed fava beans cooked with a variety of spices. Warm pita bread is usually used to serve Ful Wa Ta Meya along with a variety of toppings such as cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, and tahini sauce. This dish is a pleasant and healthy dinner choice for both locals and visitors because it is reasonably priced and an excellent source of fibre and protein.

Ful Medames

Ful Medames is the one thing that current Egyptians and ancient Egyptians share in common. For millennia, the ancient and uncomplicated recipe Ful Medames has graced Egyptian tables. This is undoubtedly another national favourite. The recipe calls for only vegetarian ingredients, such as olive oil, cumin, onion, and parsley as a garnish, and Fava beans.

Koshari

Here we come, carb overload! When lunchtime rolls around in Cairo, people can be seen waiting in line for a generous serving of one of the country’s favourite street meals at each kushari shop in the area. Rice, macaroni, and lentils make up this substantial dish, which is topped with tomato sauce, garlic vinegar, and fried onions and chickpeas. It’s an inexpensive, filling, and nutrient-dense supper that’s just right. That’s precisely what the Egyptians desired!

Mahshi Hamam

Some refer to them as pests, some as rats of the sky, while yet others adore eating them! Egypt has long served stuffed pigeons, or “hamam mahshi,” as a food. The pigeons are housed in lofts made of mud brick that are visible along the Nile. The birds are stuffed with bulgur wheat or rice, or with onions and spices, and a grain known as freekeh, green cracked wheat with a nutty flavour.

Fiteer Baladi, or pizza made in Egypt

This is an Egyptian cuisine that has a striking resemblance to pizza. It is extremely calorie-dense and buttery, but well worth it! A brick oven is used to cook layers and layers of filo pastry to make fite. The first version is served simply, but it can also be ordered sweet with sugar, honey, or syrup, or savoury with meats, cheese, and vegetables. It’s impossible to refuse pizza!

Shawarma

Egypt did not originally originate from shawarma, but since Egypt was a part of the empire of the Ottomans, it has become so. Layers of meat, either lamb, chicken, or beef, are roasted over a spit for the entire day to create shawarma. After that, the outermost portions are shaved off and inserted into a delicious roll or piece of bread. Sausages are a major attraction.

Egyptian Kofta and Kebab

Happy days, meat lovers! Kofta is made of ground lamb or beef mixed with a lot of spices, rolled, and cooked on a grill. It could be referred to as an Egyptian-style sausage. Meat chunks, like lamb or veal, are prepared for kebabs by grilling them on a skewer over a coal fire. There are always sides of dips, bread, rice, and vegetables served with these meat meals. You will undoubtedly go into a blissful food coma after this.

Basbousa

The delicious dessert delicacy known as basbousa is originally from Egypt. Because of its semolina batter, the cake is also known as semolina cake. It is typically served in the form of a diamond or square. This tender cake is sweet, sticky, and flavorful with citrus, and it tastes great both warm and cold.

Baklava

In Egypt, baklawa, sometimes known as baklava, is a well-liked dessert. The flaky, golden confection is typically topped with honey or syrup and packed with chopped nuts. In Egypt, baklava is offered in restaurants and can be found in patisseries.

 Fondue with cheese from Alexandria

You did really hear correctly. Although it may not be a traditional Egyptian dish, cheese fondue is nevertheless worth trying. This cheesy masterpiece will definitely blow you away and is only found at Alban Swissra, an Alexandrian restaurant. The eatery mixes pastrami, sausage, chopped meat, chicken, and a lot more with their famed Egyptian cheese, Rumi. After that, the dish tastes great when accompanied by crunchy Egyptian bread. Cheese enthusiasts or those with daring palates will adore this.