Main Course · Lunch · Dinner · Middle Eastern ·

Egyptian Koshari with Lentils and Crispy Onions

Name: Egyptian Koshari with Lentils and Crispy Onions
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 105 min
Total time: 140 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 1 cup brown lentils, rinsed; 1 cup white rice, rinsed; 2 cups water; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 onion, finely chopped; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 can (400g) crushed tomatoes; 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 1 tablespoon ground coriander; 1 teaspoon chili powder; Salt and pepper, to taste; 200g elbow macaroni; Salt, for boiling water; 2 large onions, thinly sliced; 4 tablespoons vegetable oil

A hearty and delicious dish, Koshari combines rice, pasta, and lentils, topped with crispy onions and savory tomato sauce.

5(912 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·June 22, 2025

Egyptian Koshari with Lentils and Crispy Onions — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

35 min

Cook

1 h 45 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Lentils and Rice

For the Tomato Sauce

For the Pasta

For the Crispy Onions

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 441 kcal
Protein: 14 g
Carbs: 64.17 g
Fat: 15 g
Fiber: 8 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 2647 kcal
Protein: 84 g
Carbs: 385 g
Fat: 90 g
Fiber: 48 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 cup brown lentils rinsed	680	50	120	2	30
1 cup white rice rinsed	680	13	148	1	1
2 cups water	0	0	0	0	0
1 teaspoon salt	0	0	0	0	0
2 tablespoons vegetable oil	240	0	0	28	0
1 onion finely chopped	44	1	10	0	1
3 cloves garlic minced	13	1	3	0	0
1 can (400g) crushed tomatoes	86	5	19	1	5
1 tablespoon ground cumin	22	1	3	1	1
1 tablespoon ground coriander	20	1	4	1	2
1 teaspoon chili powder	8	0	2	0	1
Salt and pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
200g elbow macaroni	286	10	56	1	3
Salt for boiling water	0	0	0	0	0
2 large onions thinly sliced	88	2	20	0	4
4 tablespoons vegetable oil	480	0	0	56	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Tomato Sauce

1
Heat oil
Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
2
Sauté aromatics
Sauté onion and garlic until golden.
3
Simmer sauce
Add crushed tomatoes, cumin, coriander, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Preparing the Lentils and Rice

1
Combine ingredients
In a pot, combine lentils, rice, water, and salt.
2
Cook
Bring to a boil, then simmer on low heat for 25-30 minutes until tender.
Tip: Ensure lentils are cooked but not mushy.
3
Fluff
Fluff the rice and lentil mixture with a fork.
Tip: Adding a bay leaf to the rice and lentil mixture enhances the flavor.

How to Make Egyptian Koshari with Lentils and Crispy Onions

Total time: 2 h 20 min · Yields 6 servings

1
Cooking the Pasta
Boil macaroni in salted water until al dente, then drain.
2
Frying the Onions
Heat oil over medium-high heat, fry onions until golden brown and crispy. Set aside on paper towels.
3
Melding the Flavors
Combine rice, pasta, and lentils in a large serving dish, layer with tomato sauce, and top with crispy onions.