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Koshari is a delicious, hearty, and comforting Egyptian dish made from rice, lentils, pasta, and chickpeas topped with a spicy tomato sauce and crispy fried onions. The best part? It’s made entirely from pantry staples and costs only $4 to make a large batch.
🌟 Why You’ll Love Koshari
- Budget-Friendly: Costs less than $1 per serving.
- Super Filling: Loaded with carbs, protein, and rich flavors.
- Pantry Staple Ingredients: Uses common items you probably already have.
- Easy to Make: Just cook, mix, and serve.
Learn more about Egyptian cuisine from Egyptian Streets.
📋 Ingredients (Serves 4, Cost: $4.00)
- 1 cup rice ($0.50)
- 1 cup lentils ($0.60)
- 1 cup elbow macaroni or small pasta ($0.50)
- 1 can chickpeas (14 oz) ($0.80)
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced ($0.40)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced ($0.10)
- 1 can tomato sauce (15 oz) ($0.60)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil ($0.20)
- Salt, cumin, and chili powder to taste (Negligible)
Want a more authentic experience? Check out this recipe from Serious Eats.
🍳 Instructions
- Cook the Rice and Lentils: Cook rice and lentils separately according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the Pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions, drain, and set aside.
- Prepare Tomato Sauce: Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Add tomato sauce, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Fry Onions: In a separate skillet, fry onions in oil until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
- Assemble: In bowls, layer rice, lentils, pasta, and chickpeas. Top with tomato sauce and crispy onions.
- Serve Hot: Enjoy this comforting, hearty meal!
Want tips on perfecting your Koshari? Read this guide from The Spruce Eats.
📊 Cost Breakdown
| Ingredient | Cost |
|---|---|
| Rice | $0.50 |
| Lentils | $0.60 |
| Pasta | $0.50 |
| Chickpeas | $0.80 |
| Onion | $0.40 |
| Tomato Sauce | $0.60 |
| Vegetable Oil | $0.20 |
| Total Cost | $4.00 |
🌟 Tips for Perfect Koshari
- Fry the onions slowly to get them extra crispy.
- Add more spices to the tomato sauce for a deeper flavor.
- Top with hot sauce for extra heat.
For more Egyptian recipes, visit My Egyptian Kitchen.
📖 More Budget-Friendly Recipes You’ll Love
- The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Financial Independence – No Budgeting Required
- 15 Easy Ways to Save Money on Groceries Without Sacrificing Quality
- Extreme Frugality: The Wildest Ways People Save Money and What Actually Works
📌 Final Thoughts
Egyptian Koshari is the ultimate budget comfort food that’s hearty, satisfying, and loaded with flavor. Perfect for meal prepping or feeding a crowd on a tight budget.
For more cheap and delicious recipes, keep visiting KateFi.com!
