A recipe by Malik and Miriam 🍝

"Koshary is a traditional Egyptian comfort food that combines rice, lentils, macaroni, and chickpeas layered together and covered in tangy tomato sauce, garlic vinegar, and crunchy fried onions. It is considered Egypt’s national dish and is widely sold as street food.

Affordable and satisfying, koshary represents everyday Egyptian life and reflects the country’s diverse culinary influences, blending Middle Eastern, African, and Mediterranean elements into one iconic meal." Miriam, Chair of the University of Bath Islamic Society 25/26.

Ingredients

• Lentils
• Rice
• Vermicelli
• Spaghetti and elbow pasta
• Onions
• Flour
• Tomato paste
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• Oil
• Spices: salt, vinegar, pepper, cumin, chilli flakes. 

Method

1. Wash the lentils. In a pot, heat 2 tbsp of oil and sauté a chopped medium onion until lightly golden brown. Add the lentils to 2 to 3 cups of water depending on the volume - you want plenty of water, so watch it and add more if the level drops. Season with salt, pepper and a 1 tsp of cumin. 
2. Once cooked, strain and save your lentil water. 
3. Wash and soak your rice for 30 to 60 minutes. Heat a little oil and fry the vermicelli until golden. Add the rice and stir for 1 minute. 
4. Pour in the saved lentil water, enough to just cover the rice, and add salt. Once boiling, turn the heat to very low. 
5. Boil your pasta and cook by following the packet instructions, then drain. 
6. Slice your remaining onions into thin strips. Toss with flour and fry in a generous amount of hot oil (you will use more of this oil later). Add salt and stir frequently until golden and crispy, then remove from the oil and spread on paper towels. 
7. Add 2-3 tbsp of hot onion oil to the cooked pasta and coat evenly. 
8. In a separate pot, add 2 tbsp of the onion oil and add tomato paste and a little water to thin it out. Let it heat up and add 3 tbsp of vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. 
9. Add 1 tbsp of the remaining onion oil to a pan and sauté the minced garlic. Stir until fragrant, then add 2-3 tbsp of vinegar and water, a pinch of chilli flakes, salt and pepper. 
10. To serve, layer the components in a dish or pot - a layer of rice, lentils, and then pasta. Top it with the tomato sauce, garlic dakka and a handful of crispy fried onions. 

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