Welcome to The Egyptian Kitchen, a digital archive of traditional Egyptian recipes and the cultural history that defines them. I’ve always loved to cook and I’ve always loved learning about my Egyptian heritage. As the first generation born outside of Egypt, my connection to the country has been primarily through food, not language. I created this site (formerly a blog) to introduce people to my favourite foods that are found in Egypt, and explain the historical or cultural background of each dish or ingredient.
The inspiration for many of my recipes on this site comes from stories I heard about my two grandmothers: Renée and Samira. They actually lived two minutes apart in Cairo but never met. They lived very different lives in their respective milieus but both were artists, stylish, and great cooks.
Through the stories of my family, both past and present, and through my visits to the country, I want to showcase the special place Egyptian cuisine has for both those living in Egypt and those of us abroad. I try to keep each dish simple and not too ‘modernised’ as I like the traditional approach to cooking. I hope this site will showcase another aspect of Egypt that is often eclipsed by other Middle Eastern and North African countries in the food department.
Anne-Marie Bissada