Koshary is a popular starch-based fast food in Egypt, commonly regarded as the country's national dish. Copts eat koshary often during various fasting seasons in which they do not eat animal products. It is often topped with fried onions and a distinctive tomato sauce prepared with garlic and vinegar.
The Required Ingredients for the koshary category are:
- macaroni and/or rice
- chickpeas
- lentils
- tomato-based sauce
MAHSHI WARA ENAB
Mahshi wara enab, also known as "stuffed grape leaves" or "dolma", are popular as a main dish or appetizer across most Mediterranean countries. They are often filled with rice, ground meat, herbs, and spices. In Egypt, they are eaten warm and rolled thinner than in most countries.
The Required Ingredients for the mahshi wara enab category are:
- grape leaves
- rice
Mahshi wara enab will be judged on the following elements: taste, appearance, and authenticity. It must be prepared without yogurt sauce (tzatziki). You may bring sauce, but it will be left out of the judging portion of the day.
KOFTA
Kofta is a mix of ground meat, onions, herbs, spices and other ingredients rolled into shape cigar-shaped cylinders. The kofta is then either baked, broiled or grilled.
The Required Ingredient for the kofta category is ground beef and/or ground lamb.
Kofta will be judged on the following elements: taste, appearance, and authenticity. It may not be served with additional sauces.
DESSERT
Dessert is a course that comes at the end of the meal. It usually, but not always, features sweet food.
There are no required ingredients for the dessert category.
Dessert will be judged on the following elements: taste and appearance. There are no restrictions on this dish. Please let us know ahead of time if your dish requires separate storage temperatures.
FILO DISH
This dish must include filo, which consists of paper-thin sheets of raw, unleavened flour dough.
The Required Ingredient for this category is filo dough. DO NOT use puff pastry as a substitute.
The Filo Dish will be judged on the following elements: taste, appearance, and creativity.
*Taste is defined here as including--but not limited to--flavor, aroma, and texture.
