Wednesday, June 8, 2011

What is There To Eat In Egypt

By Rachelle Gordon


Visiting a destination as exotic and thrilling as Egypt is an opportunity to experience not just the wonderful landscape and history, but also to immerse yourself in the culture. Among the most satisfying ways to do this is to open your mind and appetite to the exotic cuisine the country has to offer. So long as you are not afraid to be a little adventurous in your tastes, holidays to Egypt offer the chance to sample delicious cuisine in a whole new way.In ancient times, due to the intense dryness of the land and the lack of rain, the Egyptians relied almost completely on the Nile to keep their crops alive. Because of this, they were restricted to growing particular crops - specifically wheat and barley. This made their diet mainly bread based, and beer also played a large part on the menu.

Onions, other vegetables and dried fish supplemented their diet and these traditional products nonetheless form the foundation of the majority of the dishes you'll eat on your holidays. Egypt's cuisine is an eclectic fusion of Middle Eastern traditions blending the influences of Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria.Often very easy dishes, they can be exotically spiced and use fruit and seasoning in unusual combinations.

Breakfast

Most locals will eat a delicious breakfast usually involving some sort of beans or bean cakes. Fava beans are mashed and mixed with onions, tomatoes and spices then deep fried and served with an egg and a few pita bread. It is a scrumptious combination and usually combined with pickles or jams. You can ready yourself for a day's sightseeing on your holidays in Egypt with a refreshing Shay bil na'na' (mint tea), or perhaps a cup of Kahwa - the thick strong coffee that is the signature drink.

Lunch and Dinner

Lunch is occasionally the main meal for Egyptians; heavy on starch and generally followed by a siesta. Often dinner is lighter, serving up the leftovers from lunch, but you can select when you eat your main meal as they are almost interchangeable.In the event you just wish to grab a snack there are plenty of roadside stalls serving seasoned, roasted chicken or Shawirma - lamb roasted on a vertical spit served in pita bread. If you want to eat like a local on your vacations to Egypt try the traditional Aysh - delicious leavened bread which is left to rise in the sun and then baked. It is usually served with beans, onions and tomatoes boiled and spiced; or a mashed and fried bean patty.If you want to dine in, you'll never be short of the place to eat. Going to the vibrant cafes and restaurants with owners who beckon you to their establishments is usually as much of an experience as the food itself. You can choose from an thrilling selection of dishes and titbits, and also the Mezzo is a great way to sample a wonderful choice of flavours. Try stuffed vine leaves; roasted and mashed aubergines; Tarsi - a variety of vegetables soaked in brine; Tahina - oil paste with sesame seeds; Baba Glamour - a combination of the Tahina and garlic and mashed eggplant; and Humous - mashed chickpeas and Tahina paste. You can wash it all down with the delicious local dark beer - Aswanli.

Don't be shocked in the event you don't see any cutlery on the table - just use your bread as both fork and spoon.If you're feeling particularly daring on your holidays, Egypt is the ideal place to try some thing you have never had before! One of the national delicacies is Hamaam - roasted pigeon stuffed with rice and spices. They're very small though, so you might wish to order several!Unless you choose a few of the delicious fresh fruits, dessert is usually a really sweet affair. Most are usually fruit and pastry based and swimming in honey. Try the traditional layered Baklava; Basbousa - semolina topped with honey and nuts; or Fatir - pancakes stuffed with honey fruit and eggs. All very rich and all very scrumptious - a fitting end to a food-lover's holiday to Egypt!






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