Exploring Koshary: Egypt's Iconic Nutritious Dish
Discover the story, health benefits, and preparation of Koshary, Egypt's beloved and nutritious traditional dish.
Koshary is considered one of the popular and nutritious dishes, mainly consisting of ingredients rich in proteins, minerals, and other nutrients essential for the body.
It is prepared at minimal cost, without chicken or meat, making it an economical dish often served with tomato sauce, garlic vinegar, cumin, and lemon. So, what is Koshary, or what is its story? How is it prepared, and what does it consist of? In this article, discover its history, origin, and whether Koshary is Egyptian as we celebrate Koshary Day.
Is koshary an Egyptian dish?
Koshary is an authentic Egyptian popular dish characterized by a mix of simple ingredients such as rice, lentils, pasta, fried onions, and tomato sauce.
It has been famous for generations as a daily traditional meal in Egyptian culture that reflects the style of popular cuisine in everyday life. This dish is one of the most widespread foods in streets, homes, and restaurants due to its distinctive taste, ease of preparation, and nutritional balance with proteins and carbohydrates. Koshary has become so intertwined with Egyptian identity that it is now a symbol of hospitality and simplicity on the table, bringing people together across the country without discrimination.
In a significant cultural event, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced the inclusion of Egyptian Koshary in the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity for 2025. This reflects the international community’s appreciation of Egyptian food culture. The inclusion came after extensive efforts to document Koshary preparation practices and their connection to popular heritage and everyday life.
Koshary is now one of the elements that highlight Egyptian cultural diversity on the global stage, and this recognition contributes to preserving Egypt’s culinary heritage and passing it on to future generations.
Is koshary a healthy meal?
Is eating koshari beneficial? In fact, what distinguishes koshari the most is the flavorful spicy tomato sauce and the special spices used in its preparation.
Koshari is considered a healthy dish as it contains various nutritional elements the body needs. It has been classified as a wonderful and balanced vegetarian meal for athletes because it is rich in proteins and carbohydrates.
Additionally, it contains lentils, an excellent source of fiber, and tomato sauce, which is high in vitamin C, making koshari an ideal food to eat during or after running. One serving of koshari contains approximately 758 calories.
What are the harms of koshari?
Although koshari has health benefits, especially for athletes, and contains high levels of proteins and minerals, excessive consumption can lead to harms such as fried onions increasing cholesterol levels or negatively affecting heart health.
It may also cause constipation and abdominal bloating. Additionally, the calorie content in a plate of koshari can result in weight gain if eaten in large quantities.
How to Prepare Koshari
The method of making Egyptian koshari can vary between kitchens. Lentils, rice, and pasta may be served layered, side by side, or mixed together in one dish. If you’re new to koshari, here are the ingredients and steps to make an easy version. Give it a try today!
Ingredients and Measurements for Koshari
- 50 ml olive oil.
- 200 g basmati rice.
- 560 ml vegetable broth or water.
- 250 g brown lentils.
- 100 g pasta.
- 20 g butter.
- 2 onions, sliced.
Tomato Sauce Ingredients and Measurements
- 60 ml olive oil.
- 1 onion, chopped.
- 1 garlic clove, minced.
- 2 1/2 teaspoons spices.
- 1/2 teaspoon dried chili flakes.
- 400 g canned cherry tomatoes.
- 200 g canned chopped tomatoes.
- 1 tablespoon vinegar.
Preparation
- Heat oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Sauté onion, garlic, spices, and chili flakes for a few minutes. Add tomatoes and simmer on low heat for 6 minutes.
- Add vinegar to the mixture, stir, and set the sauce aside.
- Heat a tablespoon of oil in a pot over medium heat. Add rice and stir well.
- Pour broth or water and cook rice on low heat for about 15 minutes.
- Boil lentils in a large pot with water over medium heat for about 6 minutes.
- Add pasta to the lentils and cook for about 6 minutes. Transfer lentils and pasta to the rice pot and mix together.
- Heat butter with remaining oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Fry onion until golden brown.
- Serve koshari on plates, top with tomato sauce, garnish with crispy onions, and serve immediately.
How do I make Egyptian koshary sauce?
What are the ingredients of Egyptian koshari sauce? Koshari sauce is one of the distinctive additions that give koshari a delicious extra flavor. If you are wondering how to make Egyptian koshari sauce, simply boil water in a medium pot with minced garlic, cumin, powdered coriander, and salt, then pour white vinegar and stir the ingredients well until boiling.
Once the koshari sauce has cooled, pour it into a small serving dish and serve it directly or pour it over the koshari plate itself.
What is served alongside koshary?
What is eaten with Egyptian koshary? Koshary can be served as a main dish or a side dish, depending on preference. Many different dishes can be served alongside koshary, including various salads like vegetable salad and tabbouleh, grilled dishes such as grilled vegetables, and a variety of dips and pickles.
Koshary can also be served as a side dish alongside various main dishes like fried fish, grilled chicken, different meat trays, and various types of grills.
In this article, and on Koshary Day, learn about its history and origin, whether koshary is originally Egyptian, and everything related to its preparation, including koshary sauce and the dishes served with it.