Koshari or Kushari is a very popular Egyptian Street Food that is made with Rice, lentils and Pasta which is then topped with a spicy tomato sauce and caramelized onions.
Koshari or Kushari is a very popular Egyptian dish made of rice and lentil, served with a spicy tomato sauce and caramelized onions. We first ate this dish in one of the local Middle Eastern restaurant. I was amazed to find many vegetarian dishes on their menu and this one in particular caught my eye.
I have never eaten a dish that has the rice and also the pasta. Once we ordered it we fell in love with it. The dish was layers and layers of flavors. I tried to mimic the flavors that I ate in the restaurant and came up with this recipe. If you are looking for a one pot meal, this one sure should make your list.
History of Koshari –
I also want to share a little bit of information that I found about the history and origination of this dish. Koshari originated in the mid 19th century, during when Egypt was a multi cultural country and was economically a developing country. Lower class people’s pantry which is usually very limited, at the end of the month, always has little of many different ingredients like rice, lentils, pasta, tomato sauce, garlic and onions.
Someone came up with the idea of putting all these ingredients together in one dish and thus originated the Koshari, which eventually became very famous among the laborers and the working class people. It is often found as a street side food apart from also being made at home. This dish is usually entirely vegetarian.
I have made this dish with regular masoor dal (orange lentil) and have seen that it cooks a little too soft for my liking. Lately I have been using whole masoor dal with skin and it works perfect. This is the perfect lentil to use for the dish. The restaurant I ate this first at has a very spicy tomato sauce. I make mine spicy as well but to the extent that the boys can eat it and enjoy.
Caramelized onion is very vital for the dish and hence make sure you make them. It is a time consuming process to make the caramelized onion, but the sweetness from the onion is just delicious in the dish. Make sure you make enough as people will definitely come for more onion.
Also check out my other Middle Eastern recipes –
Cooking time – 1 hr
Difficulty level – easy
Ingredients to make Koshari / Kushari – (serves 4)
To make Koshari –
- Rice – 1 cup
- Lentils (brown) – ¾ cup (I used Masoor dal with skin)
- Elbow pasta or any small pasta – ¾ cup
- Onions – 2 large (thinly sliced)
- Cumin powder – ½ tsp
- Nutmeg powder – ¼ tsp
- Oil – 4 tbsp
- Salt – to taste
To make the tomato sauce –
- Tomato sauce – 1 can (15 oz)
- Onion – 1 small (chopped finely)
- Garlic – 2 cloves (finely minced)
- Cumin powder – 1 ½ tsp
- Cinnamon – ½ tsp
- All spice – ¼ tsp
- Nutmeg – ½ tsp
- Red chili powder – 2 tsp (or adjust based on your spiciness level)
- Vinegar – 2 tbsp
- Salt – to taste
To serve –
- Caramelized onions
- Boiled chickpeas – 1 cup (optional)
Procedure to make Koshari / Kushari –
- Heat a wide pan and add about 3 tbsp of oil. Sauté the onions until well caramelized and dark brown.
- Remove almost 3/4th of the caramelized onions and drain it on a paper towel and keep aside.
- To the remaining onions in the pan, add about 3 cups of water and bring it to boil.
- To this add the washed and drained lentils.
- Once the lentils are ½ way done, add the rinsed and drained rice.
- Add the cumin powder and nutmeg powder to the boiling rice and lentil along with salt.
- Cook them until done (about 30 mins). Keep aside.
- In another pan boil about 3 cups of water and cook the elbow pasta until al dente. Drain and keep it aside.
To make the sauce –
- Heat a pan with about a tbsp of oil. Add the chopped onion to it and sauté until translucent.
- Now add the garlic and sauté for 2 more mins.
- To this add the vinegar and bring it to a boil. Once the vinegar boils, add the canned tomato sauce along with salt and rest of the seasonings.
- Let the sauce boil and then simmer and reduce until it is thick (about 20 mins).
To assemble –
- Layer the rice and lentil on the bottom of the plate.
- Then add a layer of pasta.
- Add a layer of spicy tomato sauce.
- Top with caramelized onions and boiled chickpeas.
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Koshari / Kushari
and Pasta which is then topped with a spicy tomato sauce and caramelized onions.
Ingredients
To make Koshari –
- Rice – 1 cup
- Lentils brown – ¾ cup (I used Masoor dal with skin)
- Elbow pasta or any small pasta – ¾ cup
- Onions – 2 large thinly sliced
- Cumin powder – ½ tsp
- Nutmeg powder – ¼ tsp
- Oil – 4 tbsp
- Salt – to taste
To make the tomato sauce –
- Tomato sauce – 1 can 15 oz
- Onion – 1 small chopped finely
- Garlic – 2 cloves finely minced
- Cumin powder – 1 ½ tsp
- Cinnamon – ½ tsp
- All spice – ¼ tsp
- Nutmeg – ½ tsp
- Red chili powder – 2 tsp or adjust based on your spiciness level
- Vinegar – 2 tbsp
- Salt – to taste
To serve –
- Caramelized onions
- Boiled chickpeas – 1 cup optional
Instructions
- Heat a wide pan and add about 3 tbsp of oil. Sauté the onions until well caramelized and dark brown.
- Remove almost 3/4th of the caramelized onions and drain it on a paper towel and keep aside.
- To the remaining onions in the pan, add about 3 cups of water and bring it to boil.
- To this add the washed and drained lentils.
- Once the lentils are ½ way done, add the rinsed and drained rice.
- Add the cumin powder and nutmeg powder to the boiling rice and lentil along with salt.
- Cook them until done (about 30 mins). Keep aside.
- In another pan boil about 3 cups of water and cook the elbow pasta until al dente. Drain and keep it aside.
To make the sauce –
- Heat a pan with about a tbsp of oil. Add the chopped onion to it and sauté until translucent.
- Now add the garlic and sauté for 2 more mins.
- To this add the vinegar and bring it to a boil. Once the vinegar boils, add the canned tomato sauce along with salt and rest of the seasonings.
- Let the sauce boil and then simmer and reduce until it is thick (about 20 mins).
To assemble –
- Layer the rice and lentil on the bottom of the plate.
- Then add a layer of pasta.
- Add a layer of spicy tomato sauce.
- Top with caramelized onions and boiled chickpeas.
- Scoop a big spoonful of everything together and enjoy this tasty and delicious dish!!!
Archana says
I had made koshari for the first mega marathon. It has been ages and now I had forgotten about it till I saw your pics and remembered the bharat spice that was given for bm. Must try it out. It like you said is one amazing dish.
Lathiya says
Never heard of this dish. It looks like a wholesome street food. Delicious.
Jagruti's Cooking Odyssey says
I’ve never seen this recipe, looks so comforting and cosy. You don’t require so many exotic ingredients for this recipe too. A perfect lunch for a cold and frosty day.
Jayashree T.Rao says
It’s good to know about Koshari through your blog. Interesting recipe, combination of rice and pasta it will be filling too.
sasmita says
Egyptian Street Food looks so comforting as it has both rice and lentils. I am definitely going to try this sure 🙂 Awesome vegetarian street food it is…
Padma Veeranki says
Good to know about this interesting street food…That too vegetarian!! Such a filling one pot meal…Definitely a must try recipe!!
Rafeeda - The Big Sweet Tooth says
This dish is very vital for a lot of Arabs. So heavy on carbs but amazingly comfort food… You have cracked it completely…
Mayuri Patel says
I’ve heard about the dish Koshari but had not really looked it up as I presumed that it would be a meat dish. What a pleasant surprise to read that its mainly vegetarian. Loved reading how this dish originated. Definitely a dish that I’m bookmarking to try out.
Lata Lala says
This street food from Egypt sounds so different and interesting. This really is healthy one pot meal. Loved this filling with macaroni beans and rice kinda one hearty meal.
A must try recipe.
Pavani says
I have made this dish a while back and absolutely LOVED it. Caramelizes onions are the key and give the dish so much flavor. You are tempting me to make this again very very soon 🙂
Priya Srinivasan says
I have this in my bookmarks since we did Around the world, this is one complete meal! Looks delicious!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
This year I said I’d get more adventuresome in my eating habits. This Middle Eastern dish would certainly fit the bill. I can’t wait to try it.
Molly Kumar says
This looks like a great recipe to try for weeknight meals. I probably have all the ingredients in my pantry 🙂
swathi says
This really healthy one pot meal, Love this filling one with macaroni beans and rice. I need to try it. it is my do list. thanks for sharing the recipe.
Deepika says
This is so interesting. I loved going through the history of this dish. Best part it’s simple and easy to make and filling. Thanks for sharing.
Noel Lizotte says
Love this idea! Use up all those “end of month” bits of food and turn it into a delicious meal! Best of all, it’s filling and full of flavor.
Helene says
I love to use whole masoor dal in my food. For some reason however it’s not that common compared to the orange/halved masoor dal in Goa. Your post makes me want to try koshari soon 🙂
Adriana Lopez Martin says
wow this sounds so interesting and different I need to try it soon. Lovemaking new recipes and learning about other cultures
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
I don’t think I have ever tried Egyptian food, at least not that I can recall. This sounds delicious. I love all the ingredients…so I know it would work for me.
Veena Azmanov says
I’ve never heard of this but it sounds so unique and delicious So simple too. Saving for later.
Catherine says
What a hearty and wonderful meal! This sounds like something I would enjoy very much.
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh says
It sounds like this is loaded with all sorts of great flavors. I’d totally try it!
Priya says
sounds grear. So far I have not tried any other cuisine… great u pulled out beautifully.
Usha says
Pasta in rice is interesting.
Priya Suresh says
And this dish is in my list since a long, seriously i want to make this interesting street food as soon as possible. Such a filling dish.
Vaishali says
Interesting street food . The combo of rice and pasta is unique and everything put together would definitely be a nice wholesome dish .