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Amazing Egyptian Koshari Recipe

Amazing Egyptian Koshari Recipe (Rice + Lentils with Spiced Tomato Sauce)

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 6
Author: Gaila - The Petit Gourmet
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Cozy Egyptian koshari made with rice, lentils, caramelized onions, and a bold baharat tomato sauce with garlic vinegar. Meal-prep friendly and easy to customize.

Ingredients

Lentils + Rice Base

  • 1 ½ cups brown lentils
  • 1 garlic clove crushed
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ teaspoon salt add after cooking
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 ½ cups basmati rice
  • 1 ½ cups stock vegetable for vegan, or chicken/beef
  • 1 cup chopped parsley use less if you want it subtle
  • Salt + pepper to taste

Caramelized Onions

  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 4 white onions thinly sliced
  • 2 teaspoon ground coriander or coriander seeds
  • 2 teaspoon sugar
  • Salt pinch helps onions sweat

Spicy Tomato Sauce

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves crushed
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon baharat spice blend
  • ⅓ cup vinegar
  • 1 ½ cups tomato juice or crushed tomatoes + splash of water

Instructions

Caramelize onions

  • Heat oil in a wide pan over medium. Add onions + pinch of salt + coriander.
  • Cook slowly, stirring often, until deeply golden (about 25–35 minutes).
  • Add sugar during the last 5–10 minutes to help them caramelize.
  • Reserve half for topping. Keep the rest for mixing into the base.

Make the spicy tomato sauce

  • Heat olive oil in a saucepan. Add garlic, cumin, and baharat. Stir 30–60 seconds.
  • Add vinegar and tomato juice. Simmer 5–8 minutes. Taste and adjust salt.

Cook rice

  • Heat 2 tablespoon olive oil in a pot. Add rice and fry 2 minutes.
  • Add stock, bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook 15 minutes.
  • Rest 5 minutes off heat, then fluff.

Cook lentils

  • Rinse lentils. Add to pot with 2 cups water, garlic, cumin, bay leaf.
  • Simmer 20–30 minutes until tender (not mushy).
  • Salt at the end. Drain excess liquid if needed.

Assemble

  • In a big pot or bowl: combine rice + lentils + chopped parsley + the “mix-in” caramelized onions.

Optional: fold in cooked pasta (classic koshari move).

  • Serve topped with remaining caramelized onions and plenty of tomato sauce.

Notes

Optional but classic add-on (recommended for authenticity)

  • Small pasta (macaroni or ditalini), cooked and drained
    • Use about 1 ½ to 2 cups cooked pasta to match your rice/lentil volume
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