Ingredient appreciation — what makes Basbousa special

What sets Basbousa apart is the handling of lentils. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the deeply savoury and spiced result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

koshari is considered the national dish representing the multicultural influence on Egyptian cooking. The a traditional Egyptian koshari shop atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had mint tea as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Basbousa is the place to start.