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Egyptian Koshari Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 66 reviews

Egyptian Koshari is a beloved traditional street food featuring a hearty and flavorful mix of rice, lentils, macaroni, and chickpeas layered and topped with crispy fried onions, a spiced tomato sauce, and fresh herbs. This comforting dish combines textures and spices, making for a delicious and satisfying vegetarian meal perfect for sharing.

Ingredients

Scale

Crispy Onions

  • 2 large yellow onions (thinly sliced)
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 cup vegetable oil (for frying)
  • 1 tsp kosher salt (to season)

Grains and Legumes

  • 1 cup basmati rice
  • 1 cup green or brown lentils (picked over and rinsed)
  • 1 cup elbow macaroni
  • 15 oz cooked chickpeas (rinsed)

Spices and Herbs

  • 2 tbsp Baharat Spice Blend (divided)
  • 1 tsp kosher salt (for rice and lentils)
  • 3 tbsp fresh parsley (minced)

Tomato Sauce

  • 2 tsp vegetable oil
  • 4 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 2 cups tomato passata/sauce
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar (or red grape vinegar)

To Serve

  • Shatta sauce (hot chili sauce)
  • Garlic Sauce (Toum)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Crispy Onions: Heat 1 cup vegetable oil in a large, deep-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Toss the thinly sliced onions in flour until evenly coated. Fry the onions in batches until dark golden brown, about 3-5 minutes per batch. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the onions to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Season immediately with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and set aside.
  2. Cook Rice: Rinse the basmati rice under cold running water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch. In a saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups water and 1 teaspoon kosher salt to a boil. Add rice and 1 tablespoon of the Baharat Spice Blend. Stir once, cover tightly, reduce heat to low, and cook for 18 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit covered while you prepare other components.
  3. Cook Lentils: In another saucepan, bring 4 cups water, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1 tablespoon Baharat Spice Blend to a boil. Add lentils and simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes until tender but not mushy. Drain and set aside.
  4. Cook Macaroni: Bring 3 cups water with 1 teaspoon kosher salt to a boil in a third saucepan. Add elbow macaroni and cook uncovered for about 10 minutes until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  5. Prepare Tomato Chickpea Sauce: Heat 2 teaspoons vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in tomato passata, add 1 teaspoon kosher salt, the remaining 2 teaspoons Baharat Spice Blend, and cooked chickpeas. Reduce heat to low, partially cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in red wine vinegar and minced parsley. Remove from heat and set aside.
  6. Assemble Koshari: You may either layer the ingredients or mix them all together, reserving crispy onions for topping. For a layered presentation, place half the crispy onions at the bottom of a large serving bowl, followed by a layer of tomato chickpea sauce, then macaroni, lentils, and top with rice. Press gently with a spatula to firm up the layers.
  7. Invert and Serve: Cover the bowl with a plate larger than the bowl’s width. Holding both firmly, flip the bowl and plate so that the koshari releases onto the plate, with the crispy onions on top. Garnish with additional crispy onions and chopped parsley. Serve with shatta hot sauce and garlic sauce (toum) on the side for added flavor.

Notes

  • Baharat Spice Blend is a Middle Eastern spice mix typically containing black pepper, coriander, paprika, cardamom, nutmeg, cumin, cloves, and cinnamon; you can adjust to taste or use store-bought.
  • Be careful when frying onions as they can burn quickly; fry in batches to maintain oil temperature and even cooking.
  • Make sure to rinse rice well to prevent it from becoming gummy.
  • If preferred, mix all layers together to enjoy the blended flavors instead of the layered presentation.
  • Serve with shatta sauce (spicy chili sauce) and toum (garlic sauce) for authentic Egyptian flavor.

Keywords: Koshari, Egyptian cuisine, vegetarian main dish, lentils, rice, tomato sauce, crispy onions

Find it online: https://kochenmitviktoria.com/egyptian-koshari-recipe/