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Koshary

Egyptian · Main

A comforting and vibrant Egyptian national dish consisting of layers of spiced rice, brown lentils, macaroni, and chickpeas, all topped with a tangy tomato-vinegar sauce and crispy fried onions.

IntermediateVeganVegetarian
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Koshary — recipe cover
1 hrA little patience, a lot of flavor
Prep time20 min
Cook time40 min
Servings4 people
DifficultyIntermediate
Let's make something good

How to make it

6 steps. Take it one step at a time.

  1. Heat the vegetable oil

    In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions and fry until they are dark golden brown and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Reserve the oil.

    15 min
  2. Place the lentils

    Place the lentils in a pot with 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 15-20 minutes until tender but not mushy. Drain and set aside.

    20 min
  3. Cook the macaroni and spaghetti together

    In a separate pot, cook the macaroni and spaghetti together in salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

    10 min
  4. Using 2 tablespoons of the reserved onion oil, sauté the rice

    Using 2 tablespoons of the reserved onion oil, sauté the rice in a pot for 2 minutes. Add 2 cups of water and salt, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer on low for 15 minutes until cooked.

    17 min
  5. For the sauce: In a small pot

    For the sauce: In a small pot, heat 1 tablespoon of onion oil. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant. Stir in the tomato sauce, vinegar, and season with cumin, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.

    15 min
  6. To assemble: Layer the rice

    To assemble: Layer the rice, then the lentils, then the pasta. Top with the tomato sauce, chickpeas, and a generous amount of crispy fried onions.

A little kitchen wisdom

The secret to a great Koshary is the 'warda' (fried onions). Use the oil from frying the onions to cook the rice and sauce for extra depth of flavor.

What you'll need

SkilletLarge PotSmall SaucepanSlotted Spoon
Keep the good going

For now. And for later.

Make it ahead

All components can be prepared a day in advance and stored separately. Reheat grains and sauce before assembling.

Store & enjoy

Store leftover assembled Koshary in an airtight container. Reheat in the microwave or in a pan with a splash of water to loosen the grains.

Allergens

Contains wheat, gluten.

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An AI-created recipe from the EZdish collection. Ingredient quantities and techniques have not been independently kitchen-tested. Published on this website . Updated . First published in the EZdish collection .

Koshary
Step 1 of 6

Heat the vegetable oil

In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions and fry until they are dark golden brown and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Reserve the oil.

15 min