Food for Thought (in Egypt)

I think I beat my record of posting a food blog long after returning home.

Fruit juices - I think my favorite food part while traveling is all the fresh juice stalls.  In order: Melon, Sugar Cane, Tamarind, Sobia - coconut with milk, Hibiscus(Karakadey), and Tangerine.

Coffee - made by boiling ground coffee beans, usually infused with cardamom, and water in a special pot.  Ask for it "mazbuuta" which means just the right amount of sugar.  You could ask for it without sugar or a lot of sugar but then it wouldn't be juuuuuuust right.

Aish Baladi - pitabread, made with 100% wholewheat flour.  We didn't have a single meal that didn't come with the bread of life.

Koshari - all the carbs.  A layering of rice, macaroni, lentils, chickpeas, tomato sauce, and then topped with garlic, vinegar, spices, chili, and fried onions - this is Egypt's favorite street food and national dish.  What it lacks in fanciness, it makes up for in fillingness and exceptionally cheap price.  Who would have thought this originated from an Indian dish?

Ful - pronounced fool.  Doesn't look like much but along with koshari, this fava bean stew captures Egypt's unique heritage and culture.  It's also packed with nutrients and is slow to digest due to its high fiber content.


Shorbet Ads - red lentil soup.  It's warming, filling, and smooth.

Dips - from left to right: baba ganoush, fava beans, hummus

Muyyet Salata - Salad water.  Exactly what it sounds like but better than it sounds!  It's supposed to encourage you to eat more.  I hope this picture encourages you to read more as there's a lot more deliciousness.

Ta’meya - Fava bean falafel.  On the recommendation of our Bellies En-Route guide, I made a tameya pita sandwich and I fell in love.  Where do I find fava beans?!

Hawawshi - I took a bite before remembering to take a picture.  Pitawich with minced meat, parsley, onion, and chili.  Not unlike a hamburger.

Hamam Mashi - some call them rats of the sky and others call them delicious.  Stuffed pigeon is not an uncommon menu item in Egypt. 

Macaroni Bechamel - it’s exactly what the name describes.  Egypt’s version of mac and cheese.  It's a Cairo favorite and comes with a side of tomato sauce.

Molokhia - jute mallow greens.  I've never heard of this before and apparently it's full of health benefits.  It has a rather bitter first bite and slimy as heck as a soup.

Local food - Food tours might be the new thing we do at all the countries we visit from now on.  Bellies En-Route made this decision for us on their exception downtown Cairo food tour.  It was a great way to learn about the city from a local and try some authentic dishes from local places.  This photo depicts a typical meal in Cairo.  Bread, meat, vegetables stewed in a tomato sauce, and rice(sometimes with bonus vermicelli).

Seafood - we took a day trip out to Alexandria where the air is fresher, the temperature cooler, and the food is all about seafood.

Shawarma - not technically "Egyptian" but is definitely a big part of Egyptian cuisine.


Desserts - so many but they're all drenched in butter syrup and ghee.  Very sweet and very sticky.

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