Egyptian food has been influenced throughout history, particularly by its neighbours from the Middle East, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and Ottomans first influenced Egyptian cuisine thousands of years ago. More recently, the foods of other Arabic people in the Middle East such as the Lebanese, Palestinians, Syrians, as well as some foods from Europe, have affected the Egyptian diet. However, Egyptian cuisine maintains its uniqueness. After thousands of years, rice and bread remain staple foods, and molokhiyya (a spinach-like vegetable) and fuul (cooked, creamy fava beans), a national dish, are nearly as popular as long ago.
When holidaying in Luxor don’t be scared to venture into a local restaurant and try some of the delicious food.
In conjunction with this list please also see the traveller article on common Arabic words and phrases
WHAT MIGHT BE ON THE MENU?
Shurbit firakh – Chicken soup
Shurbit ‘adas – Lentil soup
Shurbit khudaar – Vegetable soup
Fuul – Fava beans served with oil and lemon, sometimes also with onions, meat, eggs or tomato sauce
Taamiya (Falafel) – balls of deep-fried mashed chickpeas and spices
Shawarma – Slivers of pressed, spit-roasted lamb, chicken or beef served in pitta bread
Tahina – Sesame-seed paste mixed with spices, garlic and lemon, eaten with pitta bread
Babaghanoug – Paste of aubergines mashed with tahina
Kushari – Mixture of noodles, lentils and rice, topped with fried onions and a spicy tomato sauce
Hawawshi – Minced meat with added spices and cooked in pitta bread.
Shakshouka – Chopped meat and tomato sauce, cooked with an egg on top
Makarona – Macaroni “cake” baked in a white sauce or mincemeat gravy
Mahshi – Literally “stuffed”, variety of vegetables (peppers, tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes) filled with mincemeat and/or rice, herbs and pine nuts
Wara einab – Vine leaves filled as above and flavoured with lemon juice
Fiteer- A pancake/pizza made of layers of flaky filo pastry with sweet or savoury fillings
Kofta – Mincemeat flavoured with spices and onions, grilled on a skewer
Molukhiyya – Jew’s mallow, a leafy vegetable stewed with meat (often Rabbit) or chicken broth and garlic
Firakh – Chicken grilled or stewed and served with vegetables
Fatta – Mutton or chicken stew, cooked with bread
Hamam mashwi – Grilled pigeon
Kibda – Liver
Samak mashwi – Grilled fish served with salad, bread and dips
Tagen – Meat, Fish or Vegetables cooked in a spicy tomato sauce.