Koshary, the non-Egyptian national dish
When I first began writing recipes for this site (formerly a blog), I was constantly asked if and when I would put up a recipe …
Explore the plant-based side of Egypt. Naturally vegan recipes like Falafel, Koshary, and lentil-based dishes that are full of flavour and history.
Stewed okra in tomato sauce (bamya)
Today’s recipe is a return to a classic favourite of mine: Stewed okra (bamya) in tomato sauce. Bamya, arabic for okra. It’s my comfort food. It’s tasty, healthy (great for your digestive tract), and easy to make. If you’re new to okra, you just have to get over the sliminess texture. Once you get over that, you’re good. And you’ll thank me forever. You’re welcome.
Sprouted bean snack or soup (ful nabet)
I’d be lying if I said I just whipped up a batch of this soup….in fact I’ve been waiting for months it seems to share …
Dukkah (Egyptian spice mix)
Du’ah is a fragrant and popular roasted and ground spice combination specific to Egypt. The Levantine region has its own mix, called Za’tar. Over the years, I’ve have many requests about this beloved and little known spice mixture . In Egypt, the word dukka is commonly pronounced as du’ah. The word derives from the Arabic word to pound, since the spices are toasted and then pounded using a mortar and pestle.
Karkade (hibiscus juice or tea)
It’s summer time here in the northern hemisphere. Though you wouldn’t know it as I write this wrapped in layers of warmth. But that doesn’t mean one can’t enjoy a summer drink in honour of the season.
Karkade (pronounced: kar-ka-day), or hibiscus, is a popular drink across Egypt and also in neighbouring Sudan, where it is simply referred to as Sudanese tea by most East Africans. In the middle of a hot day, when you’re dying for a drink, a cool, tart and refreshing karkade juice is the perfect thing.
Olass wa sal (Taro with swiss chard)
I’ve been trying to chase down this recipe for months now. Though I ate it back in 2010 for the first time during Christmas dinner in Cairo. I thought it was molokhia a green soup made from the fresh leaves of the molokhia plant. Not at all, though the spicing is similar.
I was told it was ‘olass. And that it is normally eaten on special occasions, like Christmas. But after some research between both sides of the family, and my Arabic tutor, turns out everyone eats ‘olass all the time and its a favourite dish of most households.
Bissara (Mashed fava bean mezze)
It’s that time of the year: fava bean season. And by fava bean, I mean broad beans. Not the beans used in ful mudammas. This is the bigger, louder cousin of the bean family.
All throughout the Mediterranean basin, fava beans are on display. Each country has its own approach to eating them. In Portugal, they are used to make hearty stews; in France, they are eaten fresh or thrown into salads. And in Egypt, they are pureed into a lovely dip called Bissara (pronounced: beess-awe-ra).
