Kushary

This is a very popular dish in Egypt. It is popular because it is easy to make, and it is also very affordable to buy. There are specail shops you can go to to buy Kushary, or sometimes hand-drawn carts selling Kushary can be found in heavily populated residential areas.

I have only made this once because it is so cheap to buy here, it is worth going down to the local Kushary shop and buying it.

So, here's the recipe:

1 cup brown lentils

1 cup rice

1/8 kg macaroni

2 large onions, chopped

2 tablespoons oil

2 cups tomato sauce (recipe for this below)

garbanzo beans (optional)

salt

Recipe for tomato sauce:

2 cups tomato juice

1-2 onions very finely chopped

5-7 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tsp. vinegar

cooking oil, salt, and pepper

Cook lentils in salted water until tender. Strain. Cook rice in salted water until tender. Strain. Cook macaroni, preferably the small, round variety, strain, rinse, and strain again.

Place these three ingredients in a cooking pot. Fry onion to a rich brown, then remove the onions onto absorbent paper and strain the oil into lentil mixture. Return the pot to the flame and cook for 7-10 minutes, tossing often to prevent sticking.

For tomato sauce:

Saute onions until soft, then add garlic and fry to a pale brown. Add tomato juice and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until sauce is cooked and becomes dark. Add vinegar and seasoning and cook for 2-3 more minutes.

Serve by topping each individual plate with tomato sauce and friend onions and then sprinkle a few cooked garbanzo beans on top if desired .