The vegan/vegetarian traditional dishes you cannot miss in Egypt are:
1. Tameya (AKA Falafel)
Egypt is famous for its falafel, it’s like no other. Worldwide falafel is made out of Hummus, but in Egypt, it is totally different, it is made out of fava beans. People usually have Tameya for breakfast; it is deep-fried, crunchy and perfect for vegetarians.
2. Mish (AKA Old cheese)
Cottage cheese mixed with some spices and aged for months and some times years. The best Mish can be found in Upper Egypt, and it is made by farmers. It is very salty; the older the saltier. The legend says that it is was made and eaten in the old eras of pharaohs as well. It is perfect for breakfast.
3. Feteer
A very special pastry that you cannot find around the world. Layers of pastry baked in a special oven made out of mud. Whether you like savoury or sweet, you will definitely enjoy eating it, either to eat it with some cottage cheese or salty Mish cheese or dip it in honey or molasses.
*Hint: Add some sesame paste to molasses.
4. Koshary
The most famous dish of Egypt, you can also find Koshary now in some cities around the world; New York, Berlin, Brussels, Paris, and even London. It is a mix of rice, 2 types of pasta, and black lentil topped with special tomato sauce and flied onions. Some people like it spicy so they add some chilli sauce to it.
5. Moussaka
Fried eggplant mixed with chopped tomatoes, chilis, and garlic. It is very aromatic and has a unique taste. Some Egyptians would like to eat on breakfast with pita bread, while others would cook it “Lasagna style” by adding some bechamel to it and bake it in the oven for lunch with rice aside.
6. Basbousa
This is the dessert you will never find like outside of Egypt. Some other countries took the recipe and named the dessert with some other names to try to steal it, but Egyptian Basbousa has a very unique taste. Basbousa is made out of semolina and is sweetened with rose water syrup, and then garnished with cashews, walnuts, or pistachios. Simply, it is the best way to end your meal.