Almost 20 years ago I lived in Egypt. It feels just like yesterday. I am riveted to news about Egypt’s revolution and eager for news from friends and their families in Cairo. With Egypt and the people of the country on my mind, I plan on making koshari for dinner tomorrow. My favorite memory of koshari is eating a bowl from a street vendor in the middle of the night in downtown Cairo. Noodles, lentils, red sauce, garlic, fried onions – heaven!
I’m still waiting for my friend’s family recipe, but the Internet yielded several recipes that should get me close enough to the real thing. I found this recipe on All Recipes.com and I’m crossing my fingers for a meal that brings back memories of Cairo.
Egyptian Koshari
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups brown lentils
– 1-1/2 cups uncooked long grain rice
– 2 cups small macaroni (the small rings are the best)
– 1/4 cup vegetable oil
– 4 large onions, chopped
– 8 cloves garlic, minced
– 2 (15.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
– 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
– salt and pepper to taste
– 1-1/2 cups uncooked long grain rice
– 2 cups small macaroni (the small rings are the best)
– 1/4 cup vegetable oil
– 4 large onions, chopped
– 8 cloves garlic, minced
– 2 (15.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
– 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
– salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Rinse lentils and add to 8 cups water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium heat for 25 minutes. Add the rice to the lentils, and simmer for an additional 20 minutes, or until rice and lentils are tender.
- In a separate saucepan cook macaroni according to package directions (about 8 minutes.) Drain.
- While the grains cook, heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion is lightly browned. Pour in the tomatoes and season with red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste. Simmer over medium heat for 10 to 20 minutes.
- In a large serving dish, stir together the lentils, rice and macaroni. Mix in the tomato sauce until evenly coated.
I will let you know how this turns out. And, I will also let you know if I get my friend’s family koshari recipe. Maybe she’ll let me share…
