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The History of Hawawshi
On the streets of Cairo, one of the most popular dishes you can order from a vendor is Hawashi. This minced meat stuffed inside of a pita is deceptively simple, but incredibly delicious. The thin bread of the pita combines with carefully seasoned meat to make a perfect, unique, sandwich.
After the food is combined, the food is then baked until the outside is golden, crisp and crunchy. This makes an extraordinary combination of flavors and textures while enjoying this food.
Compared to many other popular menu items, these delicious snacks have relatively modern roots. The sandwich only goes back about as far as the 1930s, with the earliest evidence of its existence a receipt selling one.
The receipt is somewhat disputed however, with some saying the sandwich was invented as late as the 1970s. Either way, this sandwich was invented less than 100 years ago, while many other popular foods can go back thousands of years.
What is known about this sandwich is that it was invented by an Egyptian butcher, either by the name of Mohamed al-Hawawshi or Ahmed el-Hawawsh. At some point, this man chose to combine meat, onions and seasonings with the super thin pita like bread called baladi.
Baladi is the colloquial word that simply means ‘rural bread.’ It’s typically used for things like falafel and mashed fava beans—not for slicing up as sandwich. He began selling these thin sandwiches anyway, which quickly took off in popularity.
While there’s no doubt as to how good they are, it’s not entirely clear why he put these ingredients together. Baladi is a very thin bread and is usually not used with fillers. It was an innovation at the time and is still highly popular in Egypt as well as around the world.
Why Hawashi Is So Loved
At a glance, Hawashi is similar to other foods like gyros. What makes Hawashi so special? Here’s a quick rundown of reasons that may be behind its popularity.
Both Crisp and Juicy
Hawashi is stuffed and then baked. The outside is golden and crispy, the inside is bursting with juicy meat. This combination of flavors and textures make it very popular.
Affordable
Hawashi is made with simple, affordable ingredients. This means it doesn’t have the high price tags of some of the fancier foods out there, while still being just as delicious.
Flavorful
Hawashi is carefully seasoned to be as delicious as possible. Seasonings vary depending on the shop. They can include chili seasoning, paprika and cumin. At Aladdin’s Mediterranean restaurant, roasted red pepper sauce is a key ingredient.
In some locations, the bread is cooked on a grill and has a smokey flavor as well. Grilling Hawashi is a popular choice, and can change the flavor depending on what sort of wood is used.
Conclusion
Hawashi is a beloved snack food in Egypt, and is sold nearly everywhere both by street vendors and restaurants. If you want to experience a taste of Egypt, stop by Aladdin’s and try this wonderful, unusual, sandwich.