Koshari Deluxe Recipes

KOSHARI (EGYPTIAN RICE, LENTILS AND MACARONI WITH SPICY TOMATO CHILE SAUCE)

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the rice and fry it for 2 minutes, then add the vegetable stock. Bring it to a boil, decrease the heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the rice is cooked.
• Rinse the lentils under cold water and add them to another medium saucepan with 2 cups of water. Add the garlic, cumin and bay leaf and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Once cooked, add the salt and stir to combine. Strain any excess liquid if necessary.Cook the macaroni according to package instructions until al dente.Note: Prepare the rice, macaroni and lentils while the sauce is simmering and leave them covered in the pots to keep warm.
• To make sauce: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and add the onion. Cook until soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until golden brown. Add the tomato sauce, baharat, salt and pepper to taste, chile flakes (if using) and red wine vinegar. Bring it to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• To make the crispy onions, heat the oil in a skillet. Add the onions and fry until dark brown. Using a slotted spoon, remove them from the oil and place them on paper towels to drain and cool.
• Add the rice, lentils and macaroni to a large bowl and toss to combine (or simply scoop out desired amounts of each onto the plates). Sprinkle a little baharat over each portion and serve topped with some of the spicy tomato sauce. Top with garbanzo beans, the crispy onions and another sprinkle of baharat. Serve warm.

EGYPTIAN KOSHARY

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in rice; continue stirring until rice is coated with oil, about 3 minutes. Add 3 cups water and 1 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Stir in the macaroni, and return to a boil. Cook the macaroni uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the it has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain well in a colander. Return macaroni to cooking pot, cover and keep warm.
• Soak lentils for 30 minutes. Drain and rinse; drain again. Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a pot and stir in lentils. Bring to a boil; cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer until lentils are tender 15 or 20 minutes. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the onions in the oil, stirring often, until they begin to brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Onions should be a nice caramelized brown color. Add garlic and cook another minute. Remove from pan, drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Place half of the onion mixture into a saucepan. Mix in the vinegar. Add the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste, black pepper, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt, cumin, and cayenne (if using). Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer about 12 minutes.
• Serve by placing a spoonful of rice, then macaroni, and then the lentils on serving plates. Sprinkle with some of the browned onions, then top with tomato sauce.

EGYPTIAN KOSHARI

Steps:

• Combine the lentils and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium heat for 25 minutes. Add the rice to the lentils, and continue to simmer for an additional 20 minutes, or until rice is tender.
• Fill a separate saucepan with lightly salted water and bring to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain.
• Meanwhile, heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until onion is lightly browned. Pour in the tomatoes and season with red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Simmer over medium heat for 10 to 20 minutes.
• In a large serving dish, stir together the lentils, rice and macaroni. Mix in the tomato sauce until evenly coated.

KOSHARI RECIPE

Steps:

• Sprinkle the onion rings with salt, then toss them in the flour to coat. Shake off excess flour.
• In a large skillet, heat the cooking oil over medium-high heat, cook the onion rings, stirring often, until they turn a nice caramelized brown. Onions must be crispy, but not burned (15-20 minutes).
• In a saucepan, heat 1 tbsp cooking oil. Add the grated onion, cook on medium-high until the onion turns a translucent gold (do not brown). Now add the garlic, coriander, and red pepper flakes, if using, and saute briefly until fragrant (30-45 seconds more).
• Stir in tomato sauce and pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens (15 minutes or so).
• Stir in the distilled white vinegar, and turn the heat to low. Cover and keep warm until ready to serve.
• Cook the lentils. Bring lentils and 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium pot or saucepan over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and cook until lentils are just tender (15-17 minutes). Drain from water and season with a little salt. (Note: when the lentils are ready, they should not be fully cooked. They should be only par-cooked and still have a bite to them as they need to finish cooking with the rice).
• Now, for the rice. Drain the rice from its soaking water. Combine the par-cooked lentils and the rice in the saucepan over medium-high heat with 1 tbsp cooking oil, salt, pepper, and coriander. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring regularly. Add warm water to cover the rice and lentil mixture by about 1 1/2 inches (you'll probably use about 3 cups of water here). Bring to a boil; the water should reduce a bit. Now cover and cook until all the liquid has been absorbed and both the rice and lentils are well cooked through (about 20 minutes). Keep covered and undisturbed for 5 minutes or so.
• Now make the pasta. While the rice and lentils are cooking, make the pasta according to package instructions by adding the elbow pasta to boiling water with a dash of salt and a little oil. Cook until the pasta is al dente. Drain.
• Cover the chickpeas and warm in the microwave briefly before serving.
• To serve, fluff the rice and lentils with a fork and transfer to a serving platter. Top with the elbow pasta and 1/2 of the tomato sauce, then the chickpeas, and finally 1/2 of the crispy onions for garnish. Serve, passing the remaining sauce and crispy onions separately.

KOSHARI

Steps:

• First cook the lentils in 2 cups water.
• Then bring to a boil and simmer for about 15 minutes.
• when the lentils have cooked add the rice, then simmer until the rice is done.
• Begin to cook the other pasta in an other pot, strain when finished.
• Then fry the onions and garlic until golden brown.
• Then add the chili pepper and tomatoes and let simmer until a sauce like consistency is noticed, then add the onions and garlic to the sauce.
• Then set pasta on a plate and top it with the sauce.

KOSHARI DELUXE

Steps:

• Prepare the tomato salsa and green chili vinaigrette first to allow them to marinate.
• TOMATO SALSA: lightly sautè the chopped onion in the olive oil on medium heat. Add the garlic and cook another minute to avoid burning.
• Place the mixture in a food processor or blender along with the tomatoes. Puree to desired consistency.
• Place the salsa mixture back in the pan. Stir in the cumin and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Simmer, covered about 15 minutes. Set salsa aside to cool to room temperature.
• GREEN CHILI VINAIGRETTE: Combine all ingredients and stir well.
• KOSHARI: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the lentils until very tender. Drain well.
• Heat up the olive oil in a large pan on medium heat and brown the fideo vermicelli and rice, stirring well to coat with the oil. Reduce heat if necessary to avoid burning.
• Pour in 1 3/4 cups water (or vegie broth or chicken broth) and add salt to taste.
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer until tender for about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the slivered onions in 2-4 tablespoons of olive oil until the onions are caramelized a dark golden brown and crisp. Remove from heat and set aside.
• To serve, place the rice/fideo vermicelli mixture on a large serving platter. Another option: the rice/fideo/lentils can be combined then arranged on the platter.
• Spoon the drained, cooked lentils around the rice. Top the rice with the caramelized onion and garnish with fresh chopped cilantro.
• Transfer the spicy tomato sauce and green chili vinaigrette into separate bowls.
• Each person spoons some of the spicy tomato sauce and green chili vinaigrette onto their serving of rice/lentils.
• Servings are estimated.