Egyptian cooking in Cairo with a local family

Meet Somaya

Somaya, 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.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-12 guests) 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.

Cooking experience: (1-4 guests) 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.

Market visit: (1-4 guests) 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.

Notes: 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.

Languages spoken: English, Arabic and Turkish

Sample menu

• Please choose ONE menu option from the below options
• 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
• Breakfast menu: Falafel + Shakshuka + Black honey mixed with tahini + Mint tea + Egyptian freshly baked bread

Traveler reviews

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.

- 815caryk December 14, 2024

The absolute highlight of our trip! The food was incredible and the family is so special, highly recommend anyone “cook or not” to pick this tour😊

- elizabeth December 14, 2024

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!

- Darrin C December 06, 2024

I'm so glad my friend and I decided to try this Egyptian Cooking Class. It was such a fun evening and one of the highlights for our trip. We enjoyed their warm hospitality and had great conversations with Somaya, her sister Cookie and their mom. We had a tour of their home and learned a lot about Islam. It was an easy environment to be comfortable to ask questions on parts of the religion I didn't understand. We loved being in the cute little, very clean kitchen, making some of mom's recipes - Egyptian rice is so yummy. After the meal we played games, shared our musical interests and had more cultural discussions which truly enriched the experience. It was a delightful way to spend an evening!

- Sabrina November 04, 2024

Don’t think, just book it. Seriously. When traveling abroad I always love to take a cooking class. Bonus points if there is a market/grocery store add on. :) This experience was truly exceptional!! Somaya, her sister Sohalia (Cookie), and their mother Mirage were not only amazing hosts and cooks, but so fun to just chat with. We already started planning our next visit and that menu while enjoying this one! lol For anyone looking to learn about Egyptian food, culture, and cook a meal you won’t forget I couldn’t recommend this more. Thank you Somaya and family for allowing us into your home!!

- JCL0409 October 18, 2024

I attended with a friend who wanted to learn Egyptian cooking. When we arrived, Somaya and her family welcomed us very warmly. We went shopping together at a nearby market and made koshari together. The home-cooked koshari was different from the store-bought one, and it was very delicious. Furthermore, for dessert, we had rice pudding, which is a classic after koshari, and were able to fully enjoy Egyptian food. Although it was a cooking class, we not only learned how to cook, but also showed us around the house and talked a lot about culture, religion, each country's language, and life. It was so much fun that we didn't have enough time. It was very interesting to be able to see how the people of that country live, which is something you don't usually get to see. Also, I was able to receive useful advice about sightseeing in Egypt, which was very helpful. I wasn't confident in my English, but Somaya's English was perfect and I had so much fun that I forgot that I couldn't speak it well. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to try cooking Egyptian food or have heartwarming interactions with Egyptians. (Google translated)

- Road66 October 08, 2024

My friend and I ordered a dinner that included shopping at the market. The dish I was taught was Koshari, a traditional Egyptian dish. Starting with a polite message in advance, we were warmly welcomed and enjoyed the food. We had a great time shopping, cooking, and having dinner while chatting. The koshari and the rice pudding for dessert were both delicious. The conversation was in English, but as a Japanese person, my host family's English was easy to understand, and everyone was very friendly, so it was easy to communicate. Recommended for those who want a slightly different experience and try Egyptian home cooking.

- hirokoi8 October 06, 2024

We visited this lovely family during our trip to Cairo and had a fantastic time. They were very welcoming and had great conversation about Egyptian culture and food as well as the Arabic language. The food was aLeo amazing and would 100% recommend this experience to anyone else considering this!!

- Liv J July 25, 2024

Somaya and her family have been amazing hosts! They have been so welcoming and have not only taught us how to cook delicious authentic food but also taught us so much about Egyptian life. We have had a great time trying true home cooked food, which was such a lovely contrast to eating food out for the whole stay. It has been the highlight of my trip to Egypt and I feel we have not only had a great evening together but have made good friends too. Thank you🩷

- Reeceallen July 25, 2024