Some tourist attractions have become so well-known that they are synonymous with the nation in which they are located.
When you talk about France, the Eiffel Tower is usually the first thing that comes to mind.People will assume you were in Peru for Machu Picchu if you tell them you went there.China’s Great Wall will always be a powerful symbol, while the Statue of Liberty will always be a powerful symbol for the United States.
The Great Pyramid of Giza will always be Egypt’s most famous tourist destination.
Egypt is a destination on many people’s bucket lists because of the pyramids, but traditional Egyptian food is often overlooked.
Egypt has a long and varied culinary tradition that dates back to antiquity.Travelers, particularly vegetarians, have a lot to look forward to in Cairo thanks to its extensive cuisine.
Although the country’s most popular attraction is without a doubt the pyramids, mouthwatering traditional Egyptian fare like ful medames, koshari, falafel, and shawarma will keep you coming back for more.
VEGETARIAN
Hummus is the perfect accompaniment to your aish baladi if you’re looking for something savory.It is a savory dip made from cooked mashed chickpeas, tahini, garlic, cumin, and lemon juice. It is a popular Egyptian dish that is also popular in the Middle East.
The Arabic word for “chickpeas” is “hummus,” which is shortened from the dish’s full name, “ummu bi ana,” which means “chickpeas with tahini.”The dish’s exact origins are unknown, but cookbooks written in Cairo in the 13th century contain the earliest written recipes for something resembling hummus.
Hummus is typically served with pita bread and garnishes like olive oil, whole chickpeas, paprika, and herbs. It can also be eaten as an appetizer or as a dip with other Egyptian dishes like falafel.
It’s interesting to note that Egyptians in the 13th and 14th centuries ate a version of the dish known as hummus kasa, which means “crushed hummus,” according to records.It appears to be a hummus with coarsely chopped nuts that is chunkier and less blended.You can access the recipe by clicking on the link.
Medames Ful
Egyptian vegetarians have a lot to look forward to, and the ful medames may be one of the best.It is a stew of creamy fava beans cooked with cumin, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and other herbs and spices. It is an Egyptian national dish.
Ful medames, also known as foul mudammas, is a staple dish in Egypt, but it is also popular in other Middle Eastern, Levantine, and North African nations.Similar to aish baladi, it is a common Egyptian dish that can be eaten for late breakfast, lunch, or even dinner.Ful medames, like baba ghanoush and hummus, is usually eaten with warm pita bread.
Ful medames is typically prepared with fl amm, also known as “bath beans,” but it can also be prepared with other varieties of fava beans, such as fl rm, which are European broad beans, and fl balad, which are country beans.
It’s interesting to learn that people living near the Princess Baths in Cairo, a public bath near the Mosque of Sultan al-Muayyad, were the only ones who cooked fava beans for ful medames in the Middle Ages.The qidras, or large pots of bath water, were heated by bath attendants during the day.After the shower shut around evening time, the flames would keep on consuming so they’d stew fava beans in the qidras and sell them the following morning.
Falafel
Without falafel (or ta’ameya), no Egyptian food guide is complete.It is one of the most well-known traditional Egyptian dishes, along with koshari and ful medames.
The term “felafel” refers to deep-fried balls or discs made from ground fava beans, herbs, and spices, and is a common street food in Cairo and the rest of Egypt.It is popular all over the Levant, but Egypt, where it is considered a national dish, is thought to be where it originated.
It is believed that Coptic Christians in Egypt invented falafel and used it as a meat-free option during Lent.It is sometimes eaten as part of the iftar meal, which breaks the daily fast after sunset, during Ramadan.It is so popular in Egypt that you can order a McFalafel for breakfast at any McDonald’s in Egypt because it is typically eaten for breakfast.
In contrast to the rest of the Middle East, where chickpeas are used, the Egyptian version of falafel is made with dried and ground fava beans.Egyptian falafel is not only lighter and moister, but it also has a greener interior because it is made with more herbs.This Egyptian falafel is still considered to be the best in the world, according to many individuals who enjoy the dish.
Egyptian falafel can be consumed on its own or as part of larger mezze platters, regardless of how it is prepared.Stuffing falafel in a pita like a sandwich with tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and tahini sauce is my favorite way to eat it.Hot sauce is always a great addition.
Egypt has to be one of the easiest places in the world to be a vegetarian due to delicious Egyptian foods like ful medames and this falafel sandwich.
It is evident that this humble legume holds a special place in the hearts and stomachs of many Egyptians, as two of Egypt’s national dishes contain fava beans.In Egypt, eating fava beans is a “conscious act of nationalism,” according to food historian Ken Albala.It is an “expression of identity for modern Egyptians who choose to resist the assault of modern breakfast foods;It is a method for recalling their identity.
