Somaya and her mother are very passionate about cooking traditional Egyptian meals, dishes that are usually cooked and eaten at home, from recipes passed down through generations in her mother's family. A few dishes from family recipes that you can expect to try at Somaya's home are sambusa (triangular pastries) or shorbet lesan el asfour (Egyptian noodle soup), mahashi (a popular Iftar dish of vegetables stuffed with spiced meat and rice and simmered in a tomato sauce) and sahlab (milk pudding) for dessert.
Somaya learned to cook from her mother, who learned to cook from her mother. So all the recipes you will be cooking in this Egyptian cooking class comes from Somaya's grandmother kitchen -cherished family recipes. Start the class with an introduction to the aromatic and flavorful spices used in Egyptian cooking. Then for your hands-on cooking class, learn how to cook two dishes from scratch - either an appetizer + main course or a main course + dessert. Learn to make mahashi (vegetables stuffed with meat and rice) and shorbet lesan el asfour (Egyptian noodle soup) or sahlab (milk pudding). While you cook, Somaya will introduce you to local ingredients, share stories and tips and tricks to make a delicious Egyptian meal. After cooking, sit down with the family to share the meal you helped prepare.
Instead of the traditional meal, if you'd like to try Egyptian breakfast foods, Somaya can teach you to make falafel or ta'ameya from scratch - blend all the ingredients, shape them into circles and deep fry it. Your will also learn to cook Egyptian shakshuka - combine eggs and fava beans, with garlic, green bell pepper, fresh tomato, all cooked in organic Egyptian ghee from the countryside. Please let Somaya know your preference when booking your Cairo cooking experience online.
Meet Somaya at her home and then walk together to the local market in Manial. The Souq El Ghamrawy is a neighborhood street market where they sell fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and meat. Walk through the busy market where locals usually shop, and learn about the local produce while you interact with the vendors and buy a few ingredients for your cooking class.
Somaya can offer a vegetarian meal on request. So please let her know if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies while booking your Cairo cooking class online.
Please note the menu is seasonal and will vary depending on availability of ingredients. If you wish to cook or eat anything in particular please let Somaya know in advance, or else she will choose a menu for you.
This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
Traditional menu: Egyptian noodle soup or Grits soup + Mahashi (vegetables stuffed with meat and rice) or Koshary (a dish that combines pasta, rice, lentils) or Egyptian chicken potato pan or Kofta (kebab) + Sahlab (milk pudding) or Rice pudding Please choose ONE menu option from the below optionsBreakfast menu: Falafel + Shakshuka + Black honey mixed with tahini + Mint tea + Egyptian freshly baked breadSomaya, a graduate from Cairo university lives in old Cairo with her mother and siblings, in a modest home. She worked at a travel company for a few years and realized her love for meeting people and sharing with them the rich culture and history of Egypt. She now hosts travelers at home for dinners and cooking classes so that she can share her Egyptian cuisine and culinary traditions, and is always thrilled to see the joy on travelers faces when they try her mother's food. Somaya's mother's food is loved by their neighbors, friends and family, and is something that shouldn't be missed when in Cairo! You can expect a delicious, homecooked Egyptian meal, insights into the local culture and culinary traditions, along with memorable conversations.
"This was the highlight of our trip to Egypt! My sister and I traveled to Cairo (then El Gouna on the Red Sea). I wanted a culinary experience; an opportunity to learn some Egyptian specialties (not simple tourist food). Somaya, her sister Cookie, and her wonderful mother welcomed us into their warm home as if we were old friends. We booked the class through Traveling Spoon. Somaya communicated really well even calling an Uber for us to be sure we found her home.
After arriving and receiving a refreshing glass of Hybiscus tea and a tour of their home, we went off to the local market to shop for a few ingredients.
Somaya and her mother guided us through the preparation of a truly delicious Mahshy (stuffed vegetables). This was a hands on class (as requested), so we prepared the raw eggplant, zucchini, and green pepper, then stuffed them with the aromatic rice mixture. While that cooked on the stove, we prepared a luscious soup dish called Tasha made from a green similar to spinach. We sat at their table and shared this beautiful meal along with a savory rice pudding called Kesha. The meal was served with fresh made baladi bread and finished with sweet rice pudding. The meal was abundant; the instruction was very clear and hands-on (recipes were distributed), and the camaraderie was so warm. We learned new dishes and made new friends. I cannot recommend this class highly enough - you will have an unforgettable experience; we sure did."
"Fantastic local and authentic experience! Great food and company. Had fun helping to
prepare the meal which was great. After dinner, enjoyed dessert and playing some local
games with the family. Felt so welcomed. Highly recommended!"
"I'm a Signature travel advisor and our Traveling Spoon experience was fantastic! Somaya, Sohaila, and Maram were wonderful. We felt so at home and they’re such an amazing family. It was really interesting to do the market tour so close to Eid and learning what the different stores were up to for the celebrations. The meal was incredible! We made mahshi and had some fateer they had made for Eid. We’re still in contact with them and have chatted a few times since our experience. Next time I’m in Egypt, I’ll definitely be returning to do their day tour into the country side 😊"
"This Experience is a MUST DO! It feels like you’ve been transported into another world, with
amazing experiences and even better company. I would recommend this to anyone who is
travelling to Cairo! Just book it!!! We will be coming back!"
