Craving something new for dinner? Ditch the usual suspects and dive headfirst into these 21 incredible Egyptian recipes, guaranteed to spice up your weeknight. From fragrant breads to savory stews, get ready to unlock the ancient secrets of Egyptian cuisine.
1. Egyptian Mahlab Bread
Bread plays a huge role in Egyptian cooking and this version is a total winner. The result is puffy and thin with a serious crunch factor.
I bet you cannot stop eating this addictive Mahlab bread once you start. It pairs perfectly with savory items like cheese or sweet things like figs and watermelon.
2. Kofta
You take ground beef or lamb and mix it with garlic, spices, and onions before grilling the patties. I love eating these with toasted soft pita bread even though they work great with sauces and salads too.
Fragrant herbs elevate this far above your standard ground meat meal.
3. Fattah (Meat with Rice, Toasted Pita and Tomato Sauce)
This dish serves as a complete meal featuring rice, pita bread, and beef or lamb. A delicious garlic tomato sauce ties all the components together in perfect harmony.
You will usually see this served at special events like Ramadan or weddings. One bite is enough to get you completely hooked.
4. Dukkah (Nut, Seed, and Spice Blend)
This signature seasoning blend combines spices with seeds and nuts for a real Egyptian flair. You likely already have the necessary cumin, nuts, sesame seeds, and coriander in your kitchen pantry right now.
I love how it transforms bread, veggies, and meats. It truly makes a huge difference in flavor.
5. Salata Baladi
This salad features a mix of tomato, cucumber, onion, parsley, and bell pepper. The dressing combines vinegar, chili pepper, cumin, and lemon.
It tastes just as incredible as it looks.
6. Basbousa
This unique dessert is a sweet semolina cake made with yogurt. The yogurt creates a seriously moist texture while coconut adds great character.
You will find almonds studded throughout the wonderfully soft cake. Vendors sell this sticky syrup-drenched treat on nearly every corner in Egypt.
7. Egyptian Ghorayebah (Butter Cookies)
These rich butter cookies are completely tender and soft. They literally melt in your mouth with outstanding flavor.
You only need five basic ingredients to make them. I think this is everything you could ever want in a cookie.
8. Egyptian Lentils and Rice
This dinner staple combines chickpeas, lentils, and rice into a very hearty meal. A rich tomato sauce ties everything together beautifully.
You can make this ridiculously easy version right in your slow cooker.
9. Om Ali (Umm Ali- Egyptian Bread Pudding)
You definitely need to save room for this incredible Egyptian bread pudding. It uses puff pastry soaked in milk instead of stale bread.
The mixture gets loaded with sugar, nuts, raisins, and coconut flakes before baking. The oven turns it into absolute pudding perfection.
10. Egyptian Garlic Yogurt Cucumber Salad
This salad is essential for anyone who loves the combination of garlic and yogurt. Juicy cucumbers mix with a creamy dressing for a refreshing summer appetizer.
I like using it as a topping for meat entrees or just eating it on its own. It is totally drool-worthy either way.
11. Ful Medames
Fava beans are the star of this traditional breakfast dish. You will see this garlic and olive oil flavored meal served everywhere from busy streets to fancy restaurants.
It is a filling option that is supposedly pharaoh-approved. An old saying even claims beans satisfied the pharaohs.
12. Egyptian Tomato Sauce
You will find tomato sauce on everything from noodles and rice to casseroles in Egypt. A bowl of it often sits right on the dinner table.
You need to learn this recipe if you want to really immerse yourself in the cuisine. It is a spicy, tangy, and garlicky staple.
13. Falafel
This fava bean-based treat is easily one of the most famous dishes from the region. I think it is totally epic when eaten with naan.
You can top it with tahini, pepper, onion, and tomato. It really hits the spot.
14. Chicken Shawarma
I cannot get enough of the combination of rich garlic sauce, tender pita, and succulent meat. This recipe proves you do not need a vertical rotisserie to make it at home.
It seemed impossible to me at first but the results are ridiculously tasty. You will
15. Egyptian Hummus
This classic dip features mashed chickpeas flavored with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and tahini. It is creamy, rich, and popular all across the globe.
I use it as a sandwich filling or even a sauce for pasta and salad. You can dip pita chips in it for a delicious snack.
16. Koshari (Rice with Crispy Onions and Tomato Sauce)
The national dish of Egypt features a hearty mix of pasta, rice, chickpeas, and lentils. It gets topped with tomato sauce and crispy fried onions.
This is the perfect meal if you are looking to load up on carbs. The hodgepodge of starches is classic comfort food that cures the blues.
17. Egyptian Hawawshi
Think of this as the Egyptian answer to the American hamburger. I honestly think this version is way better.
You fill crispy pita pockets with peppers, onions, and ground beef. A spice blend of cinnamon, cardamom, paprika, and allspice makes the filling brilliant.
18. Rice Stuffed Veggies with Tomato Sauce (Mahshi)
This vegetarian dish features baked vegetables with an aromatic rice filling. You can use zucchini, squash, eggplant, or bell peppers.
The filling combines rice with tomato sauce, dill, mint, and cilantro. It tastes so good that you will not miss the meat at all.
19. Toum/Tooma (Garlic Sauce)
This white garlic paste is a ridiculously rich condiment often served with shawarma and kabobs. It has a creamy texture similar to mayo but with a unique flavor.
The pungent garlic packs a serious punch while lemon juice adds tartness. I use it to season boiled potatoes or as a filling for panini.
20. Egyptian Lentil Soup
This recipe highlights lentils in all their glory. It uses pureed red lentils, celery, onion, carrots, and potatoes to create a creamy soup.
Spices like turmeric, cayenne, paprika, and cumin provide warmth and a kick. The flavor is surprisingly complex despite the simple look.