like chicken, samak (fish) is an inexpensive alternative to red meat. Catfish from Lake Nasser is especially delicious. Hamam (pigeon) is also tasty, although you may starve unless you eat two or three. Fuul mudamas and falafel (small fried patties or balls of mashed beans and vegetable paste, also known as ta’amiya), both served either by themselves or in a sandwich, are the main fare of street stands and small restaurants. Tahina, a dip made of sesame-seed paste, and baba ghanoush, a mixture of tahina and roasted, mashed eggplant, are also popular in these establishments.

Shopping in the souk (market) is the cheapest alternative, but you must select your food carefully. Bread, subsidized by the government, is available in three types: aish baladi (round unleavened loaves made with coarse flour), aish shami (similar to baladi but made with refined white flour), and aish (leavened “French” style loaves). Street saiesfolk offer the flat or pita types, while the leavened loaves must be bought directly from bakeries. Cheese comes in two locally produced varieties: gibna beida (white feta cheese) and gibna rumi (a hard, yellow cheese with a sharp flavor). You can also purchase imported cheeses at reasonable prices. Zabadi (yogurt) comes iinflavored and makes a filling addition to any meal, as does amar ad-din (apricot jello), which is served frequently during Ramadan.