Kids In The Kitchen: A Taste of Egypt

Egyptian foods are healthy, delicious, and nutritious! Almonds and pistachios, cinnamon and mint…there’s also feta cheese, cucumbers, pomegranates, dates, and grapes…just to name a few of the foods Egyptians enjoy regularly.

Egypt, which makes its home along the Nile River and its fertile basin, is able to grow much of its own food. Fresh fruit is abundant and readily available. Cantaloupes, peaches, plums, grapes, oranges, dates, and bananas are some of the fruits available in season. Nuts are also common in cuisine – hazelnuts, almonds, peaches, pistachios, as well as a plethora of dried seeds.

For breakfast, Egyptian kids may eat eggs, pickles, beans or bean cakes with cheese and jam. Most families have a large lunch around 2 p.m. – consisting of meat, bread, salad, and lots of veggies. Around 5 p.m. a light snack with tea is served. Lunch leftovers are often eaten as a light dinner later in the evening before bed.

Would you like to try a fast and easy Egyptian snack? Salatit Zabadi is a good one to try. It is very similar to Greek tzatziki dip.

Ingredients Needed:

2  ½ cups Greek-style plain yogurt

1 small cucumber, de-seeded

1 clove of garlic, minced

handful of mint leaves, chopped

drizzle of olive oil

pinch of salt

1. Slice the cucumber into thin slices and dice into small pieces. Place in a bowl.
2. Sprinkle cucumbers with salt.
3. Leave for an hour. The salt will draw out the liquid.
4. Drain your cucumbers.
5. Drain your yogurt of any liquid.
6. Combine all ingredients together and mix well.

Serve with pita bread. It’s fun to use as a dip as well. Try dipping grilled chicken (or chicken nuggets) in it for a kid-pleasing treat.