Description
Egyptian Koshari is a hearty Middle Eastern street-food classic made with layers of lentil rice, pasta, chickpeas, spicy tomato sauce, and crispy fried onions. This comforting vegan dish is filling, budget-friendly, and packed with bold flavor.
Ingredients
1 cup brown lentils
2 cups short-grain rice
8 ounces elbow pasta
8 ounces spaghetti
2 cans chickpeas, drained
3 large onions, sliced
6 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons oil
2 pounds tomatoes, blended
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3 tablespoons white vinegar
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon chili flakes
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
Oil for frying
Instructions
- Toss the sliced onions with flour until evenly coated. Heat oil for frying and fry the onions in batches until golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels and set aside.
- Cook the elbow pasta and spaghetti in salted boiling water until tender. Drain and set aside.
- Simmer the brown lentils in water until partly tender. Add the rice, salt, pepper, and enough water to cook the rice. Cover and cook until the rice is fluffy and fully cooked.
- Warm the chickpeas in a small saucepan with a splash of water and a pinch of cumin for about 5 minutes.
- In another saucepan, sauté the garlic with chili flakes, tomato paste, and vinegar for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the blended tomatoes, cumin, coriander, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes until thickened slightly.
- To assemble, layer the lentil rice, pasta, chickpeas, tomato sauce, and crispy onions in serving bowls or on a large platter.
- Serve warm with extra crispy onions and sauce if desired.
Notes
Add extra chili flakes for a spicier tomato sauce.
For a sharper flavor, increase the vinegar slightly.
Store the crispy onions separately to keep them crunchy.
Leftovers can be refrigerated in airtight containers for up to 4 days.
Reheat the rice, pasta, chickpeas, and sauce before topping with onions.
Short-grain rice gives the dish a soft and hearty texture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Egyptian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 528 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 85 g
- Fiber: 13 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
