The Traditional Egyptian food and drink are among the world’s most genuine and delectable. With ingredients from around the Middle East and North Africa, as well as Greece and France, Egyptian cooks frequently give their country’s most famous dishes a unique twist.
As a result of Egypt’s long history of cultural exchanges, the country boasts a diverse population. People in different parts of the country put other things in their hummus, like cumin or beets.
Alexandria, a coastal city in the north, is more influenced by the Mediterranean. Aswan, a town in the south, is more influenced by the Nubian culture represented in Nubian Villages.
What Are The Traditional Egyptian Food And Drink?
There’s a lot to choose from when it comes to Egypt cuisine. When it comes to cooking, you’ll never run out of options. Some of these meals have been around for thousands of years, all the way back to ancient Egypt.
While wandering the streets of Egypt, it is possible to find a variety of small cafes and food carts selling very typical meals for as low as 10 or 15 Egyptian pounds. Undoubtedly, Traditional Egyptian food and drink will make your mouth swim so it is necessary to know more about the main Egyptian dishes’ names as there are more than 100 Egyptian food dishes but we have collected the Top 60 traditional Egyptian food and drinks you shouldn’t miss to try when you are in Egypt.
What Are The Top 60 Traditional Egyptian Food And Drinks?
Take this list of Egyptian foods with you to try some of the country’s most popular and long-standing dishes.
Egypt Cuisine (Main Dishes)
1- Aish Baladi (Egyptian Bread)
Bread is an essential part of many different kinds of food, and it is a critical part of the meal, but it can also be a tool or a way to eat food. One way to do this is to eat Egyptian food, like Egypt bread “Aish Baladi“.
“Aish Baladi” has been an essential part of the Egyptian diet since the beginning of civilization, and the place’s name shows how important it is to Egyptian culture. “Aish Baladi” has been a staple of Egyptian cuisine from the earliest days of civilization, and its name reveals precisely how significant it is to Egyptian culture. “Baladi” means “Traditional” while “Aish ” means “Life“.
2- Ful Medames (Fava Beans)
The famous Egyptian food “Full Medames” might be the best yet for vegetarians. The national dish of Egypt is the flavorful fava bean stew, a main dish for the traditional Egyptian breakfast.
“Full Medames” can be served either as whole beans or mashed beans. It has a wide range of preparation options. Cumin and lemon are the most common spices added to this dish.
3- Egyptian Falafel | Taameya
This is popular Egyptian street food and a traditional Egyptian breakfast dish.
“Falafel” is often called “Taameya“, but it is made with the same parsley and fava beans as falafel (instead of chickpeas, which are used elsewhere around the Mediterranean). The best shape is a flat disc, not a ball, and it’s often served as a sandwich with salad.
4- Shakshuka (Shaken Eggs With Veggies)
“Shakshuka” is one of the well-known dishes in Egyptian cuisine. It is usually eaten for Egyptian breakfast or Egyptian dinner. It goes best with pita and salad and is often served as part of a mezze platter with “Hummus“, “Falafel“, and other traditional Egyptian dishes.
For “Shakshuka“, eggs are poached in a tomato sauce made with tomatoes, garlic, green peppers, bell peppers, onions, and olive oil. It’s a tasty and easy dish that only needs one pan. Herbs and spices like parsley, mint, coriander, paprika and cumin give it flavor.
In Arabic, “Shakshuka” means “mixed” or “shaken together.”
5- Eggah (Baked Omelet)
“Eggah” is a baked omelet that is thick and filling. The favorite in Egypt and the Middle East. It can be filled with many things, like zucchini, spinach, fried onions, tomatoes, eggplant, green peppers, and leeks. The egg holds the different fillings, which can also include meat. Spices like cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, nutmeg, and fresh herbs are added to the omelet before it goes into the oven to bake.
“Eggah” looks like breakfast food, but you can eat it anytime as an appetizer or as a main dish with pita bread, salad, and other traditional Egyptian dishes.
6- Koushari
“Kushari” is a part of the national food of Egyptian cuisine, an important part of the top 60 Traditional Egyptian food and drink which has almost 100 million people, it is hard to find a single person who doesn’t love it as it is a famous Egyptian food. It is a 19th-century Egyptian cuisine currently available in food carts and restaurants across the country.
“Kushari” is made up of macaroni, tomato sauce, grains, lentils, caramelized onions, garlic, and chickpeas, among other ingredients; Even though that mix sounds weird, you should try it! If you love spicy foods, a dash of hot sauce will take your taste buds to the next level.
7- Besarah
Vegetarians will love this one, too!
Creamy green puree made with Fennel, leek, dill, parsley, fava beans, and spices is blended together to create an aromatic green cream. Egyptian bread and green onions are included.
8- Keshk | Kashk (Savory Pudding)
“Kashk” can mean three different kinds of food, The first one is a food or drink made with milk, The second type of food is anything made with flour and barley broth, and The last one concerns food made from cereals and curdled milk.
The Egyptian dish “Kashk” comes from the word “Kashk,” which means food made with milk. The main things that go into “Kashk,” a type of pudding, are dried yogurt and flour. You can add fried onions to give the dish a little kick, and “Kashk” can also be made with chicken broth to make it taste even better.
9- Mahshi (Stuffed Vegetables)
Egyptians love to stuff everything with rice. “Mahshi” is an important main dish of Egyptian food.
In Egypt, cabbage, zucchini, eggplants, bell peppers, tomatoes, and vine leaves are some of the most popular vegetables packed with rice. Without the rice mixture filling, vegetables just don’t taste the same. It gives them a unique flavor. The best way to find out what you enjoy about “Mahshi” is to get a mixed plate and try a variety of dishes.
10- Mombar | Fawaregh
It’s popular Egyptian food and other countries in North Africa and the Middle East like Syria, Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya.
“Mombar” is another sort of “Mahshi” that isn’t made from vegetables. It is a type of Egyptian sausage and it is stuffed with rice, chopped greens, and tomatoes in a cow’s or sheep’s intestines. Before filling the cow’s gut, removing all of the cow’s waste is essential. A quick boil and deep-frying complete the preparation.
11- Hamam Mahshi (Stuffed Pigeon)
“Hamam Mahshi” is another different sort of non-vegetarian “Mahshi“; it is a unique dish you probably won’t find anywhere else. The “Stuffed pigeon” is filled with seasoned rice or, even better, freekeh (bulgur wheat) before they are cooked.
People usually put cinnamon, almonds, cumin, onion, and pepper in the filling, which is then grilled until the skin is golden brown and crispy. Most restaurants will give you two servings of the bird because it is so tiny.
Many tourists hesitate to try this popular Egyptian food because they think pigeons are rats with wings. The pigeons we eat here are raised and fed in towers, similar to how chickens are raised and fed. If you like the way duck tastes, there’s a good chance you’ll also enjoy
12-Molokhiya (Jute Mallow Soup)
“Molokhiya” is a traditional Egyptian food that Egyptians grow up on since their mothers include it in their children’s meals. It’s also an ancient Egyptian cuisine, dating back to the time of the ancient Egyptians.
“Molokhiya” is the name of a soup made from the green leaves of the Jute plant. Finely chopped mallow leaves are mixed with coriander and garlic to create this dish. It is a nutritious dish you should try at least once
Different regions use different methods to make “Molokhiya“. As it is broth-based, You can make this dish with beef, chicken, shrimp, or rabbit broth.
13- Egyptian Lentil Soup
This dish is mainly made up of lentils, especially red lentils. The other ingredients are chicken broth, garlic, onion, cumin, olive oil, and lemon juice.
This lentil soup tastes better with yogurt or a drink made with milk, and you can also put it on “Aish Baladi” as a dip. To turn this into a dip, puree as much of the soup as possible.
14- Kolkas (Taro)
For “Kolkas”, the taro roots are peeled, cut, boiled, and then fried. They might be served with slices of tomato or chard leaves. Before serving, you may or may not sprinkle chopped parsley over the taro roots.
15- Fattah
Each country in the Middle East has its own take on “Fattah“, so if you’ve had the dish in Lebanon or Morocco, you’ll find ours a little more unique. “Fattah” has layers of fried bread and rice, tomato sauce made with garlic and vinegar, meat broth, and big pieces of meat.
The dish is popular Egyptian food, it is tasty but high in calories and fat, so save it for special occasions. In ancient Egypt, Fatteh was always there for important events like weddings or the birth of a child. It is now a staple of the Islamic holiday Eid al-Adha, serving as a main dish.
16- Kawaree (Cow Feet)
“Kawaree” is a dish made of cow feet that have been cleaned and boiled. The consistency is like gelatin, used to make “Kawaree” soup. It’s thought that the gelatin in “Kawaree” helps keep joints healthy because the body turns it into collagen, which is essential to protect the joints. It is sometimes served with “Fattah” or “Mahshi” (stuffed vine leaves).
17- Akawi (Oxtail)
“Akawi” is made by cutting cow tails into thick slices and roasting them with onions and tomatoes in a clay pan. The dish is often served in Egyptian grill places with white Egyptian rice or white pita bread. When eating “Akawi“, you can’t use forks and knives, so be ready to get your hands and face very oily.
18- Torly
This dish is made with a combination of meat and veggies. “Torly” is a versatile Egyptian meal that can be made in a variety of ways, its favorite meats are beef and lamb, both of which are commonly available.
When it comes to vegetable side dishes, there are a number of options. Spices such as nutmeg and black pepper are also included in the list of additional ingredients. Meat and vegetables are first cooked separately, with the seasonings added afterward. After that, the prepared components are stacked in a baking dish. An hour in the oven is all that’s left.
19- Macaroni Béchamel (Baked White Sauce Pasta)
Macaroni béchamel is an Egyptian cuisine food that can keep you full for a long time!
It’s the Egyptian touch of lasagna or macaroni and cheese that can make it a special dish for the listed Traditional Egyptian food and drinks.
There are three mouthwatering layers to this dish; The bottom layer is penne pasta that has been cooked. Minced meat with onions and tomato sauce forms the second layer. And a creamy white sauce called Bechamel completes the final layer. It contains protein, carbohydrates, and fat, making it a satisfying meal on its own. This dish is ready to serve with a golden brown top after baking!
20- Egyptian Goulash (Phyllo Meat Pie)
It is a meat pie made in the Egyptian style with phyllo dough instead of a pie crust. Between the layers of flaky phyllo dough is a layer of ground beef that has been seasoned with spices and onions. This pie is called “Egyptian Goulash“.
21- Hawawshi (Minced Meat Sandwich)
“Hawawshi” is a popular Egyptian food, it is a classic Egyptian meal consisting of bread stuffed with minced meat and sometimes cheese and vegetables. It’s like an oven-fried pizza that’s out of this world. It might satisfy your cravings for a tasty snack.
This Egyptian food recipe calls for minced meat and adding parsley, pepper, onion, and chili enhances the meal’s flavor. The well-seasoned meat mixture is put inside the bread and baked until all the flavors come together, the meat is cooked, and the bread is lightly golden and crispy.
Like so many other traditional Egyptian dishes, it has been changed uniquely by the Egyptians. There are now many kinds of “Hawawshi“, like sausage, tuna, and pastrami. In Alexandria, the meat isn’t stuffed inside pita bread but into the new dough. As a result, it has a pizza-like flavor and texture. Alexandrians then top it with tomatoes, peppers, and mozzarella cheese to make it seem like a slice of pizza.
22- Shawarma
You’ve probably had a “Shawarma” at some point, but the Egyptians added their unique flavor to the Greek gyros. “Shawarma” is either chicken or beef that has been marinated in Middle Eastern spices and cooked on a grill all day with a layer of fat melting on top.
It is often served with onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers, tahini sauce, a special garlic sauce, and a spicy sauce are common additions. It is a portion of Egyptian street food. So most “Shawarma” places are on the street and serve food, and you won’t find many places to sit down and eat. They are also a popular late-night food in Cairo, so many places serving “Shawarma” will be open until the early morning hours.
23- Kebda Eskandarani (Alexandrian Way For Beef Liver)
“Kebda Eskandarani” is a traditional Egyptian dish with grilled beef or lamb liver and spices like garlic, chili peppers, cumin, and cardamom. It’s a portion of popular Egyptian food and tasty street food in Egypt. It is usually served as a sandwich with tahini sauce, or on its own. You can also eat it on its own with white rice, lime, and warm pita bread on the side.
24- Egyptian Sausages
“Egyptian Sausages” is street food, but you can also cook them at home. It is a popular food in Egypt, where you can find it at many street food carts and fast food joints. It’s great for a quick bite or to take away. “Egyptian Sausages” are cooked in different ways, but most of the time, it is cooked with tomato sauce and hot pepper, and e served with pickles.
25- Kebab and Kofta (Egyptian Kebab And Meatballs)
This dish is a fantastic mix of two of the most delicious foods ever. Meat pieces are grilled over coals to make “Kebab“, which is often served with rice, vegetables, or bread.
In this dish, “Kebab” and “Kofta” go together. In Egypt, “Kofta” is a sausage made with ground lamb or beef and special spices. Even though it looks like it has a lot of meat, this Egyptian version of meatballs is also refreshing when served with chopped cucumber and tomato salad.
26- Tarb (Grilled Kofta Wrapped In Lamb Fat)
A fatty twist on the traditional “Kofta” dish, “Tarb” is a delicious taste. It is “Kofta” that has been covered in a layer of lamb fat and cooked to a golden brown color before being served.
Some restaurants specialize in grilled meat products all around Egypt. “Tarb” can be found there. It’s common for these eateries to serve grilled meats such as grilled chicken or “Kofta“, as well as rice, pasta, and desserts.
27- Rozz Me’ammar (Cooked Rice)
“Rozz Me’ammar” is a traditional Egyptian dish made with cooked white rice, milk, butter or cream, and chicken broth. A conventional clay pot known as a Bram is used to incorporate all ingredients before baking in the oven. People like this rice dish because it tastes creamy.
28- Sayadiya
If you’re traveling along the beach or staying in an Egyptian coastal city, you’ll have easy access to fresh fish and seafood straight from the Mediterranean, and possibly some of the tastiest seafood I’ve ever eaten. Suez, Port Said, and Alexandria are just some of the coastal cities where “Sayadiya” may be found.
“Sayadiya” is a relatively straightforward dish. The key ingredients are rice, onion, and tomato paste. Unless the meal is served on Egyptian shores, fish is not required. Some of the most common flavors are salt, cumin, cinnamon, paprika, coriander, and garlic powder.
29- Feseekh (Fermented And Salted Fish)
“Feseekh” is an ancient Egyptian food that Egyptians have consumed for centuries. Salted and fermented mullet fish is used to make this dish.
During “Sham El-Nessim“, an Egyptian spring festival, “Feseekh” is served with green onions, pita bread, and herring.
That said, this fish isn’t for everyone! Even though it has a bad smell, the flavor is a matter of debate. That one taste will either make you a fan or leave you unable to finish the rest.
30- Mesaqa’ah (Moussaka)
The Egyptian version of moussaka is this dish. Most of the time, it’s made with potatoes or eggplant. On the other hand, “Mesaqa’ah” in Egypt is mainly made with eggplant.
Egyptian Mezze (Dips And Small Plates)
31- Egyptian Green Salad
“Egyptian Green Salad” is a type of salad that is often served as an appetizer. This salad is made with cucumber, chili, onion, and tomatoes. Usually, cumin, coriander, parsley, vinegar, and oil are used to make the dressing.
32- Baba Ghanoush | Baba Ghanouj
One of the most popular dips in Egyptian food is called “Baba Ghanoush“. It comes from Lebanon and is made of cooked eggplant that has been mashed and mixed with tahini, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, herbs, and spices. In Egypt, “Baba Ghanoush” is usually served cold as a side dish or as part of a mezze platter with pita bread.
“Baba Ghanoush“, one of the most amazing meals in Egypt, is a delicious dip consisting of eggplant and tahini with lemon and olive oil, it is addictive and has many health benefits, this dish blends well with most cuisines and is widely consumed all over Egypt.
33- Egyptian Hummus (Chickpeas Dip)
34- Dukkah
“Dukkah” is an Egyptian dish that is often served as a dip with Egyptian flatbread or raw vegetables, like tomatoes or cucumbers, as an appetizer or side dish. It has mint, salt, sesame, coriander, and cumin, among other herbs, nuts, and spices.
Most people make dukkah at home, and each family has its way of making it. You can also buy it from spice vendors in small paper cones.
35- Mish
“Mish” is a type of fermented cheese that is typically manufactured at home in more rural locations. It is notable for the significant amount of salt it contains, and Baladi bread and salads are included in the serving.
36- Damietta Cheese
Damietta, Egypt’s northernmost city, is home to the production of the soft white cheese known as “Damietta Cheese“. In most cases, it is produced with buffalo milk, but cow milk has been known to be used in the past.
37- Arish cheese (Curd Cheese)
It is also a soft white cheese, but it is made from a kind of curd. Egyptians love “Arish Cheese“, which is a delicious and healthy cheese.
38- Torshi (Egyptian Pickles)
Torshi comes from the Persian word “Torsh“, which means “Sour“. This kind of pickle is called “Torshi” in Egypt and is a typical kind of pickle in the Middle East. Egyptians can make this dish with onions, carrots, cucumbers, and beets. It’s no surprise that the turnip is their favorite root vegetable.
Egyptian Desserts
39- Feteer Meshaltet (Egyptian Cushioned Pie)
This is Egyptian pizza, which has a lot of calories and a lot of butter, but it’s so worth it! “Feteer” is made with many layers of filo dough that are baked in a brick oven.
Egyptians love to put cheese, sausage, and ground beef on top of the feteer to make it savory. You can get sweet “Feteer” as simple as “Feteer” with honey or molasses or as fancy as feteer with chocolate spread, bananas, clotted cream, and sugar layered on top.
40- Baklava
“Baklava” can look different depending on where it’s made. But at its heart, it’s a crisp and flaky dessert made by layering phyllo pastry sheets, chopped nuts, butter, and spices in a pan. Before baking, the dessert is cut into rectangles or diamonds and drizzled with honey, rose water, or orange blossom water-flavored simple syrup.
41- Basbousa (Semolina Cake)
The Egyptian cake “Basbousa” is made with semolina, coconut, and yogurt. It’s sweetened with a simple syrup flavored with rose or orange blossom water, and almonds or pistachios are used to decorate it.
You can buy “Basbousa” all over Egypt. Every Egyptian pastry shop has its own secret recipe, and many people make their versions at home.
42- Knafeh
“Knafeh” is one of the most popular desserts in Egyptian cuisine. They eat this tasty dish every day, especially during Ramadan. When you’re in Egypt, try this tasty dessert serving pack.
“Knafeh” is a sweet treat made of shredded pieces that are filled with cheese or cream.
43- Qatayef (Stuffed Pancakes)
“Qatayef” is the Egyptian version of pancakes, and they are sold in almost every bakery during the holy month of Ramadan.
In essence, they’re little Arabic pancakes stuffed with sweet cheese and various nuts. Most Egyptians put nuts and sugar in “Qatayef“, deep fry it, and then pour sugar syrup on top. It is a rich Egyptian dish that you should try.
44- Om Ali (Egyptian Bread Pudding)
“Om Ali” is an Egyptian bread pudding made with milk, sugar, and some pastry, like phyllo or baked puff pastry. It’s different from most bread puddings because it’s not made with eggs, making it lighter, milkier, and less custard-like. The pie is soaked in milk and sugar, baked, and then topped with chopped nuts, coconut shreds, raisins, and cinnamon.
45-Roz Bel Laban (Egyptian Rice Pudding)
“Roz Bel Laban” is an Egyptian rice pudding made the old way. It has sugar, rose water, butter, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and short-grain rice. Egyptians usually serve this sweet treat hot or cold.
46- Mahalabiya (Egyptian Milk Pudding)
“Mahalabiya” is a traditional milk custard from Egypt, and people of all ages have always loved the dish. You’ll want to do it right away when you see how simple and easy it is to make.
47- Meshabek (Egyptian Funnel Cake)
“Meshabek” is a dessert that looks like a round tube and is very sweet. It can be found all over Egypt. The flour, cornstarch, sugar, and oil are mixed to make the dough, then twisted by hand into a spiral shape and deep-fried in hot oil.
48- Baked Sweet Potato
This healthy treat is one of Egypt’s cheapest desserts, costing about 5 pounds. Most of the time, the locals line up by the cart, and the sweet potatoes are baked in a wood-fired oven right before them. The sweet potato is cut in half and served on a piece of paper or newspaper to eager eaters.
Even modern carts sell sweet potatoes with toppings like ice cream, caramel sauce, chocolate, and nuts.
49- Medalaa
“Medalaa” is a multi-layered dessert. The bottom layer is made of “Basbousa“, and the middle layer is cream. Also, the whole dessert topping is the caramel sauce. The top layer is made from “Knafeh“.
“Medalaa” was first made just a few years ago, but it quickly became famous all over Egypt.
50- Sakalans Sandwich
The taste of “Sakalans Sandwich” might make your mouth water. This trendy sweet sandwich has fillings of Halawa, cream, jam, and honey.
51- Zalabya
“Zalabya” is a kind of fritter or doughnut that is common in Egypt and many Middle Eastern and West Asian dishes. The fritter version is made by pouring a thin batter made of wheat flour into hot oil and frying it. It is served with honey, sugar, or chocolate, in different ways and it has a delicious taste
52- Kar Assaly (Egyptian Pumpkin Pie)
In Egypt, “Kar Assaly” is a popular dessert. It’s the Egyptian version of pumpkin pie. It has no crust and is covered with a creamy bechamel sauce.
53- Asabe Zainab
This sweet dessert, made with butter, semolina, yeast, and ghee, literally means “Zeinab’s fingers“. It’s said to have been made up by a woman with the same name 100 years ago.
To make these sweets, roll out the dough, cut it, fry it, and then coat it with syrup.
54- Kahk (Egyptian Cookies)
These tasty cookies have been around since Ancient Egypt. The Great Pyramid of Khufu in Giza had a recipe for “kahk“, and you can see carvings of “kahk” in temples in Memphis and Thebes. these cookies are a tradition for Muslims’ Eid holiday.
The butter cookies are usually sprinkled with white sugar powder and filled with Turkish delight, dates, and nuts.
Egyptian Drinks
55- Egyptian Tea
Egyptians drink tea daily, making it the most popular drink in Egypt. “Egyptian Tea” comes in so many different types and flavors that tea lovers will be amazed. Black tea is the most common type of tea here, and there are many ways to make it.
Herbal teas made from plant leaves are also well-known in Egypt. Egypt has many different kinds of tea, but hibiscus and mint tea are the most famous. Egyptians can mix them with lemonade or black tea for the best taste.
56- Halabessa (Egyptian Chickpea Drink)
“Halabessa” is a soup, but it is served with a straw in a cup. Chickpeas are boiled with tomatoes, onions, garlic, and a lot of spices to make this dish. It comes in a cup with a spoon for eating chickpeas and a straw for drinking the soup. It is a healthy vegan option that will keep you full and warm at night.
57- Sobia (Egyptian Coconut Drink)
“Sobia” can be made in many different ways, but it always has coconut milk, rice, rice water, vanilla, sugar, and sugar. Egyptian markets sell “Sobia” powder; all you have to do to make “Sobia” is mix the powder with water. Some places mix “Sobia” with mango or strawberry juice, a tasty combination.
58- Sahlab (Winter Warm Milk)
“Sahlab” is warmed Egyptian milk. It is made by mixing milk with powdered orchid root. Because of the root powder, “Sahlab” milk is thicker than other kinds of milk. Instant sachets hold the milk base and other ingredients like vanilla and cinnamon.
59- Asab (Egyptian Sugarcane Juice)
“Asab” is the name for Egyptian sugarcane juice, and it is available in juice shops all over the country. “Asab” is a great way to quench your thirst on a hot day.
60- karkadeh (Hibiscus Drink)
“Karkadeh” is a herbal drink made from water, sugar, and roselle flowers. It is easy to make, has a beautiful red color, and is suitable for your health in many ways. This drink is great for summer, dinners, parties, and get-togethers because it is tart and sweet.
Don’t Waste The Chance To Try Traditional Egyptian Food And Drinks.
Now you have the chance to enjoy the tasty and delicious traditional Egyptian food and drinks when you visit Egypt and taste the wonderful Egyptian meals. Book now one of our Egyptian Travel Packages to have an amazing tour in Egypt and don’t forget to try our Egyptian Cuisine.
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