Koshari (The National Dish of Egypt)
Kimberly Killebrew
The national dish of Egypt, this is Egyptian street food at its best!
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Course Entree, Main Dish, Side Dish
Cuisine Egyptian
Servings 4
Calories 596 kcal
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 1 cup medium grain rice
- 1 cup brown lentils
- 2 cups small uncooked macaroni noodles (Gluten Free: use GF pasta)
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 garlic clove , quartered
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Salt to taste
- For the Sauce:
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion , diced finely
- 2 cloves garlic , finely minced
- 1 15 ounce can plain tomato sauce
- 2-3 teaspoons baharat spice blend
- Homemade Baharat , click link for recipe (strongly recommended for the best flavor!)
- 1/4 teaspoon red chile flakes (omit if you don't like it spicy hot)
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Crispy Onion Garnish:
- 2 large onions , very finely sliced
- Oil for deep-frying
- 1 15 ounce can garbanzo beans , rinsed and drained
Make the Rice: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the rice and fry it for 2 minutes, then add the vegetable stock. Bring it to a boil, decrease the heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the rice is cooked.Make the Lentils: Rinse the lentils under cold water and add them to another medium saucepan with 2 cups of water. Add the garlic, cumin and bay leaf and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Once cooked, add the salt and stir to combine. Strain any excess liquid if necessary.Make the Macaroni: Cook the macaroni according to package instructions until al dente.Leave each of these in the pot to keep warm and set aside. Make the Crispy Onions: Heat the oil in a skillet. Add the onions and fry until dark brown. Using a slotted spoon, remove them from the oil and place them on paper towels to drain and cool.
Make the Sauce: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and add the onion. Cook until soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until golden brown. Add the tomato sauce, baharat, salt and pepper to taste, chile flakes (if using) and red wine vinegar. Bring it to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Assemble the Koshari: Add the rice, lentils and macaroni to a large bowl and toss to combine (or simply scoop out desired amounts of each onto the plates). Sprinkle a little baharat over each portion and serve topped with some of the spicy tomato sauce. Top with garbanzo beans, the crispy onions and another sprinkle of baharat. Serve warm.Note: Each of the components can be made well in advance and then simply reheated and assembled.
Calories: 596kcal | Carbohydrates: 97g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 774mg | Potassium: 678mg | Fiber: 19g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 317IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 7mg