Go Back
–+ servings

Egyptian Koshary Recipe

Koshary, Egypt's national dish, is made with chickpeas, pasta, rice, and brown lentils, all coated in a spicy tomato sauce and topped with crispy onions. This hearty dish is a beloved Egyptian comfort food, commonly served in restaurants and homes throughout Egypt.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Course Main Course
Cuisine Egyptian
Servings 4 Yield
Calories 497 kcal

Ingredients
  

Crispy Onion Topping

  • White onions, sliced into rings - 2
  • Olive Oil
  • Salt - to taste

Tomato Sauce

  • White onion, chopped - 1
  • Garlic cloves, minced - 4
  • Tomato passata/chopped tomatoes - 1 cup
  • Coriander - 2 tsp
  • Cumin - 2 tsp
  • Chilli flakes - 2 tsp
  • Salt and pepper - to taste
  • White vinegar - 2 tbsp

Koshary

  • Olive Oil
  • Water
  • Brown lentils, rinsed - 2 cups
  • Short grain rice - 2 cups
  • Pasta (elbow/macaroni) - 2 cups
  • Chickpeas, drained - 1 can

Instructions
 

Crispy Onion Topping

  • Heat oil in a large frying pan over a high medium-heat.
  • Fry thinly sliced onion rings in oil for 20-30 minutes, until golden-brown and crisp.
  • Remove onions from the pan and dry with a paper towel. Set aside.

Tomato Sauce

  • In the oil previously used to fry the crispy onion topping, sauté garlic for 2 minutes on medium heat.
  • Add 1 chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes until translucent.
  • Add 1 cup of tomato passata to the pan and bring to boil.
  • Season with coriander, cumin, chilli flakes, salt and pepper.
  • Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens.
  • Stir in the white vinegar.
  • Cover the tomato sauce and keep warm until ready to serve.

Koshary

  • Place the washed lentils in a pot with boiling water and simmer for 20 minutes until cooked, drain and set aside.
  • Add the rice to a pan of boiling water and cook for 15 minutes until tender. Remove from heat and cover.
  • Boil pasta until al dente following the packaging instructions, drain and set aside.
  • Heat the chickpeas in a pan with oil for 3-5 minutes and set aside.
  • Combine the lentils, rice, pasta and chickpeas together in a bowl.
  • Generously top with warm tomato sauce and sprinkle crispy onions on top.

Nutrition

Calories: 497kcalCarbohydrates: 84gProtein: 20gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 247mgFiber: 14gSugar: 9g
Keyword Egyptian Koshary Recipe
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!