Koshari Easy Egyptian Recipe

Koshari Easy Egyptian Recipe – Koshari from Egypt, another International YouTube Collab. This month we are in Egypt.

Take your taste buds on a trip to Egypt with this flavorful, comforting street food classic! Koshari (also spelled Kushari) is the ultimate Egyptian one-bowl wonder—layered with tender fluffy rice, lentils, chickpeas, elbow pasta, zesty vinegar-spiked tomato sauce, and crispy golden fried onions. Vegan, hearty, and addictively delicious!

🌍 A Taste of Egypt

Nestled at the crossroads of Africa and Asia, Egypt is a land rich in culture, ancient civilization, and culinary tradition. From the majestic Pyramids to the life-giving Nile River, its food draws inspiration from millennia of history, Mediterranean influences, and wholesome local ingredients.

Egyptian cuisine celebrates legumes, grains, and bold spices—think lentils, fava beans, rice, cumin, coriander, and garlic. Koshari is a beloved staple that brings all these elements together in perfect harmony.

🍲 Why You’ll Love This Koshari Recipe

This easy Koshari version is tailored for American kitchens using pantry-friendly staples. It’s quick to make, endlessly customizable, and deeply satisfying. Need more heat? Add a pinch more cayenne or toss in extra chili flakes. Your bowl, your rules.

🧄 Ingredients Snapshot

🧑‍🍳 Pro Tips for Perfect Koshari

• 🥄 Prep Ahead: Measure and prep all ingredients before cooking—it’ll make everything smoother and more enjoyable.
• 🔥 Texture Matters: The magic is in the layering! Don’t skip the crispy onions—they’re the secret crunch.
• 🌶️ Customize It: Want more tang or heat? Adjust the vinegar or spice levels to taste.

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Ready to bring Egypt’s favorite comfort food to your kitchen? This dish is street food meets soul food—and once you try it, you’ll understand why Koshari has a cult following across the globe.

Ingredients for Koshari: For the Koshari spice mix

• 1 tbsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Paprika
• ½ tsp Nutmeg
• ½ tsp Coriander
• 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
• 1 tsp Black Pepper

Crispy onion topping for Koshari:

• 1 large onion, sliced into thin rings
• ½ cup cooking oil

Assembling the Koshari:

• 2 cups basmati rice
• 1 cup brown lentils
• 1 cup elbow macaroni
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 4 garlic cloves minced
• 1 cup cooked chickpeas rinsed
• 3 tbsp fresh parsley, minced
• 2 tsp chili flakes
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1-2 tbsp distilled white vinegar
• Servings: 4-6 servings
• Total time: 1 hour

Instructions for preparing Koshari:

1. Prepare the spice mix

For the crispy onion topping:

1. Pour the cooking oil into a medium saucepan and heat.
2. Carefully add the onion rings to the oil and fry until brown and crispy, stirring often.
3. Use a slotted spoon to remove the onions from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate.

For the lentils:

1. Add 4 cups of water, seasoned with a teaspoon of kosher salt, and the oil that was used to fry the onions to a saucepan.
2. Bring the oil and water to a boil before adding the lentils
3. Cook the lentils for 20 minutes before draining in a colander and setting aside.

Cook the pasta

1. You should cook the pasta ahead of time.
2. Cook the elbow macaroni to al dente according to package directions.
3. Drain and set aside.

For the basmati rice

1. Cook the rice according to package directions and set aside
2. Season with 1-2 tbsp of the spice mix.
3. As a shortcut, use Bens Rice.

For the tomato sauce: Make this while the Lentils cook.

1. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of cooking oil into a saucepan and heat on medium-high.
2. Add the onion and cumin and sauté for several minutes until the onion is soft and translucent.
3. Sprinkle in the red pepper flakes and garlic, and continue to sauté for a brief moment.
4. Once the garlic is fragrant, pour in the tomato sauce and add a small amount of salt.
5. Add one cinnamon stick and a bay leaf
6. Allow the sauce to simmer and thicken.
7. Once the sauce has reached the desired consistency, add the white vinegar.
8. Reduce the heat to low, and cover until ready to assemble the Koshari.
9. Don’t forget to remove the cinnamon stick and the bay leaf

To assemble, in order put the ingredients on a plate

1. Basmati rice
2. Spoon the cooked lentils over the top of the rice
3. Elbow macaroni
4. Chickpeas
5. Add the tomato sauce on top
6. Serve immediately, garnished with the crispy onions and chopped parsley.

Servings: 4-6 servings Total time: 1 hour

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If you like this recipe for Egyptian Koshari, you should try another one. It is our recipe for Baked Gnocchi.

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We were featured in a Redfin article! Check it out here: Designing the Perfect Kitchen for Home Cooks

Meet Charlie DeSando – “Voyage Tampa” article, which you can read here.

CanvasRebel Magazine Interview, which you can read here.

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