Egyptian Koshari - Made Skinny

Koshari is a vegetarian Egyptian dish. I was first introduced to it during a trip to Egypt, long time ago. Koshari is basically rice, pasta, lentils and fried onions, topped with a spicy tomato sauce.

This is not the traditional way to make Koshari. My version is low in fat and calories; I skipped the pasta and did caramelize the onions instead of frying them.

This version is a quick way to make Koshari. You cook all the ingredients separately but at the same time without losing any of the taste.

Ingredients: (4 servings)

2 cups Brown rice

1 tbsp. olive oil + 1 tbsp. butter

1 cup brown lentils, washed

1 ½ cup of tomato sauce

1 medium onion, very thinly sliced

1 tbsp. olive oil

Salt and pepper

Garlic Chili sauce or Tabasco

Directions:

Step 1:

In a sauce pan, heat the olive oil and butter on medium high. Add the rice and stir constantly until rice change color. Add water depending on the kind of rice you're using. Season with salt. 

Step2:

Bring the lentils to boil in salted water, and then simmer for about 20 minutes. Do not overcook.

Step 3:

For the sauce, you could use a good quality, store bought, tomato sauce.  

Or you can make your own sauce; it has to be a thick tomato sauce.

At this point you can add the hot sauce.

Step 4:

In a frying pan, over medium high heat, sauté the onion, dry for about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium low and add 1 tbsp. olive oil. Keep stirring until onions are golden brown and caramelized.

To serve, put one layer of rice, followed by a smaller layer of lentils. Spoon over the tomato sauce, then add caramelized onion.

I like to add more hot sauce at the end!!