Kushari
Encyclopedia
Kushari, also koshary, kosheri or koshari, is an Egyptian dish
of rice
, lentil
s, chickpea
s and macaroni
. Toppings include tomato sauce
, garlic
sauce and fried onion
.
Kushari is a vegetarian
dish that is very popular in Egypt. It is an inexpensive food served at roadside stalls and restaurants all over the country, some of which sell only kushari.
says that kushari is a variant of Indian kitchri
, brought to Egypt by British troops in the early 20th century. Other theories suggest that Kosheri may have been popularized by Egyptian jews, stemming from their kosher dietary requirements.
Egyptian cuisine
Egyptian cuisine consists of the local culinary traditions of Egypt. Egyptian cuisine makes heavy use of legumes and vegetables, as Egypt's rich Nile Valley and Delta produce large quantities of high-quality crops.- History and characteristics :...
of rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
, lentil
Lentil
The lentil is an edible pulse. It is a bushy annual plant of the legume family, grown for its lens-shaped seeds...
s, chickpea
Chickpea
The chickpea is a legume of the family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae...
s and macaroni
Macaroni
Macaroni is a variety of moderately extended, machine-made, dry pasta made with durum wheat. Macaroni noodles do not contain eggs, and are normally cut in short, hollow shapes; however, the term refers not to the shape of the pasta, but to the kind of dough from which the noodle is made...
. Toppings include tomato sauce
Tomato sauce
A tomato sauce is any of a very large number of sauces made primarily from tomatoes, usually to be served as part of a dish...
, garlic
Garlic
Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo. Dating back over 6,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent...
sauce and fried onion
Fried onion
Fried onions or French fried onions are a popular snack food or garnish accompaniment to various recipes, made from pan frying or deep frying onions thus preparing them in a manner similar to that of French fried potatoes....
.
Kushari is a vegetarian
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
dish that is very popular in Egypt. It is an inexpensive food served at roadside stalls and restaurants all over the country, some of which sell only kushari.
History
Food enthusiast Sami ZubaidaSami Zubaida
Sami Zubaida is an Emeritus Professor of Politics and Sociology at Birkbeck, University of London and, as a Visiting Hauser Global Professor of Law in Spring 2006, taught Law and Politics in the Islamic World at New York University School of Law....
says that kushari is a variant of Indian kitchri
Khichdi
Khichṛī , alternate spellings khichdi, khichri, khichdee, khichadi, khichuri, khichari, "kitcheree", "kitchree", and many other variants, is a South Asian preparation made from rice and lentils...
, brought to Egypt by British troops in the early 20th century. Other theories suggest that Kosheri may have been popularized by Egyptian jews, stemming from their kosher dietary requirements.