Kushari

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Kushari is a popular traditional Egyptian national dish, normally eaten in specialty Kushari restaurants that serve little else. It consists of a base of rice, black lentils, chickpeas, macaroni, and a topping of Egyptian garlic and vinegar and spicy tomato sauce (salsa). Small pieces of deeply fried onions are commonly put as an extra topping. Often meat (shawarma) is available as an extra topping, but kushari is overwhelmingly eaten in its vegetarian state, sometimes in fast-food establishments which also serve ta'amiyya/falafel. Smaller restuarants serve either kushari or ta'amiyya while larger ones (often chain restaurants) serve both.

Kushari is one of the commonest and most popular dishes in Egypt. Probably not a single Egyptian hasn't eaten kushari at least once in his/her life. Tourists are also drawn to kushari since its tastes (other than the spicy sauce) are almost universal, and starches are easy on delicate foreigner stomachs. Along with kushari and soft drinks, the most common other dish at kushari establishment is a sweet rice pudding (the Arabic of which translates as "rice with milk").

Served at fasts, kushari is also available at restaurants, some specializing just in this dish. There's a variation of this meal popular in Syria, Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon. Only rice and black lentils are used, without any toppings.

Kushari is merely a transliteration of an Egyptian/Arabic word into English letters, so many other versions would be possible, such as koshari, cusharee, etc.

[edit] External links

• touregypt.net article
• Article on Egyptian vegetarian cooking