The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Eid al-Fitr marks the first day on which all of us can return to our everyday lifestyles. Even though the Ramadan vibes can get really enjoyable with the gatherings, family vibes, and fantastic food, one cannot deny missing a thing or two from our daily menus. We all enjoyed the selections of Mahshi, slow-cooked meats, and innovative desserts. Still, at this point, we are more than ready to indulge in some hearty pizza, Koshary, seafood meals, and everything in between. So, let’s take off those shackles and see what food we can begin to enjoy once more this Eid. We all love to enjoy Kahk and Petit Four cookies with the ever-popular tea with milk on the first day of Eid, but besides that – there are many other types of food we can enjoy this holiday! 

Seafood

Egypt’s location dictates that seafood has to be super good. So, obviously, we cannot stay away from this amazing meal for too long. Stop by any of Cairo’s renowned seafood franchises to get a good comeback meal, including Asmak, Samakmak, and Kadoura. You can enjoy the traditional flavours of freshly-cooked fish – baked, grilled, fried or in Tajines. No matter how it’s served, it’s safe to say that fish and its crustaceous cousins were definitely missed this past month. 

Fattah

We know Fattah is reserved for Eid Al-Adha, but any Eid is a good time to celebrate with the ever-so-popular Fattah. It could get a bit heavy on the Ramadan table because of the garlic, tomato sauce, and spices but since Eid is finally here – consider it as a reward meal for this hectic busy month. If, however, you’re not in the mood for the traditional Egyptian recipe, you can go for its other variations. Since Fattah is very popular in the Middle East, you can get it with different ingredients like chicken shawarma or eggplant in most Lebanese and Syrian places. 

Fast Food

Our love and hate relationship with fast food is a real struggle. No matter how much we like to try to eat healthily, fast food seems to be lurking around the corner. Whether we want to admit it or not, burgers, pizza, and fried chicken are something we all miss during Ramadan. So, don’t be too hard on yourself; if you want to indulge in a large fries with your favourite burger or pizza this Eid – don’t think twice.  

Koshary

The most carb-tastic dish of the whole Egyptian cuisine is definitely not to be missed on this list. This street food delicacy is filling, flavourful, but can get heavy if you cannot have water for the rest of the day. So, we tend to shy away from it during Ramadan, but now we can begin to bring on this carb-party. Made up of rice, pasta, lentils, and chickpeas – with a little bit of red sauce, fried onions, and a spicy side sauce, Koshary is pure perfection. 

Feseekh & Ringa

Sham El Nessim came during Ramadan this year, and everyone missed out on the most anticipated meal of the year. People usually celebrate spring by gathering in public spaces for picnic trips to enjoy a day out while having Feseekh and Ringa. The popular fermented fish (feseekh) and the less controversial herring (Ringa) can get you quite thirsty – and that’s why this Eid is the perfect time to enjoy the weather while indulging in this all time spring-favourite.