Egyptian Minister of Culture Ahmed Hanno announced that UNESCO has added the popular dish Koshary, a staple of daily life in Egypt, to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, making it the country’s 11th recognized element.
Nahla Emam, heritage consultant to the minister of culture, called the recognition a major achievement resulting from long-term efforts.
She noted that the process was initiated by Koshary makers themselves and praised Egyptian women who preserved the traditional preparation methods, passing this knowledge to future generations.
“Everyone contributed to this international acknowledgement,” Emam said.
Koshary is a filling and budget-friendly meal made from simple ingredients such as rice, pasta, black lentils, and fried onions, with condiments like vinegar, garlic, and hot sauce added to taste. It is prepared both at home and served in restaurants and street carts, the UNESCO official website said.
With Koshary’s recognition, Egypt now has 11 elements on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Previous inscriptions include Al-Sirah Al-Helalya (The Epic of Beni Helal) in 2008; Tahteeb (Stick Art) in 2016, Aragouz puppetry in 2018; knowledge and traditions affiliated with palm trees in 2019; manual-textile industry in Upper Egypt in 2020; Arabic calligraphy knowledge, skills, and practice (joint file with other Arab countries) in 2021; knowledge, skills, traditions, and practices related to the palm tree (joint file) in 2021; and Journey of the Holy Family Festival in 2022.
source/content: english.ahram.org.eg (headline edited)
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