Do you know what Koshari (or Kushari or Koshary) is? No, I didn’t either. Apparently it’s one of the most popular dishes in Egypt but until I visited there, I’d never heard of it. After I arrived in Egypt, I saw lots of shwarma and felafel stands and even a KFC run by the deaf community in Cairo, but no Koshari stalls. I obviously wasn’t in the right location or was too busy being dazzled by those big, triangular pointy things to pay attention.
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When we had finished visiting the big, triangular pointy things, we dropped into a Koshari shop to sample the ultimate fast food.
You order the size you want and it’s made up for you on the spot for just a few Egyptian Pounds. The basic mix is vegetarian with rice, lentils, chickpeas and macaroni, topped with crunchy onions and a spicy tomato sauce. Different shops specialise in different combos and whilst I was a little dubious of it’s star quality, I still managed to wolf it down (must have been that desert heat). So next time your visiting the land of big stone obelisks, pointy things and excessive eyeliner, make sure you look out for the Koshari stalls and shops.
PS: make sure you check out the link to the KFC You Tube video – possibly the only video on You Tube with no talking, music or commentary
Yes! I had it for dinner last night! I too discovered it in Egypt, except my experience wasn't as positive. I had it for dinner in Cairo just before an overnight bus trip to the Egyptian desert. Unfortunately, early in the trip, I realised it had given me a mild dose of food poisoning. Nothing like an Egyptian bus on a bumpy track through the stark desert without a toilet in sight for hours