The Storied Recipe

180 The World’s Only: Dr. Menna’s Singular Mission to Unearth Egypt’s Food Legacy
I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Mennat-Allah El Dorry to The Storied Recipe Podcast today. Menna, as she insisted I call her, is an archaeobotanist with a specialty in food and an Egyptologist with a specialty in Coptology and the only person in the world to have this combination of qualifications.
If you’re like me, who had never heard of an archaeobotanist before coming across Menna’s @eatlikeanegyptian account on Instagram, I’ve got good news. Menna is also a professor, so she answers all of my basic questions with clarity and good humor.
Dr. El Dorry begins by sharing a cherished family recipe – a layered dish of potatoes, tomatoes, and meat, slow-cooked to perfection in a clay pot, just as her father used to prepare it with Menna’s help on weekend mornings at their farm in the north of Egypt.
From there, we delve into her fascinating work with “ecofacts”, exploring how - and which - ancient foods have been preserved for thousands of years. Dr. El Dorry discusses the role of food in daily life for ancient Egyptians and the complex identity of Egyptian cuisine today, why their food traditions are disappearing, and Dr. El Dorry’s deep commitment to both unearthing Egypt’s ancient food heritage and preserving today’s.
Highlights- “Dee-Nee-Vo” - Her father's one pot meat, potato, and tomato dish renowned among their social circle.
- What is an archaeobotanist?
- How are ecofacts preserved?
- Decorative bread preserved for over 3500 years
- Why do people say there is no such thing as Egyptian cuisine?
- Halloumi cheese dating back to the 4th century AD
- Plants that were grown in Ancient Egypt that are still grown today
- The intersection of Egyptology and Coptology.
- The idea of putting meat and vegetables into a clay pot is the basis of our cuisine.
- I don’t work with artifacts; I work with ecofacts.
- In Ancient Egypt, we have a lot of food stuffs preserved in tombs.
- [In the tombs] we have full heads of garlic perfectly preserved smelling exactly as garlic should.
- Food was preserved in the dung which was burned for fuel and then became stable, like charcoal.
- Unfortunately, a lot of Egyptians have lost sight of their food heritage.
- The variety we got once from the countryside, people have forgotten it. In the big city, you will find always the same 10-15 dishes, many of which have a very recent history.
- Most things from my father’s generation will be lost… and this is why it's important to document. I can’t freeze time but I have to document as much as I can.
- The word Coptic itself can mean different things and has meant different things at different times in Egyptian history.
- I don’t want to talk about kings or Egyptian politics, I just want to talk about everyday people.
Instagram: @eatlikeanegyptian
The Storied Recipe Needs Your Help!Please leave a 5-star review for the podcast right here!
This link will give all review options available on your device. Simply choose any option, click, and leave a review. Thank you!
The Storied Recipe Print ShopWhere every print tells a story.
High end prints for your kitchen walls: Download and print immediately.
The Storied Recipe NewsletterThe Storied Recipe is a community that believes food is a universal love language. Join for episode & recipe updates every Friday mornings. (And occasional free gifts!)
More Episodes with Guests of Middle Eastern Heritage- 153 "We Were Raised on Love" with Auntie Mary
- 152 Paradise in Palestine with Auntie Mary
- 142 Christmas in Palestine with Mai Kakish
- 140 Why This Revolution in Iran Can Succeed with Swarnika & Saeid
- 139 Habibi, What’s Cooking? Sfouf! With Amale Chamseddine
- 134 Honoring the Women of Palestine with Mai Kakish
- 129 A Sacrificial Lamb & A Critique of the West with Saima Ateeq
- 123 The Feasts of Ramadan with Syrian-American Omayah Atassi
- 112 Tunisia, Couscous, and The Oula Ceremony with Elyes Taleb
- 082 Choosing Freedom with Fatima Mortada
- 077 Arabic Feasts with My Husband, John Hadeed
- 056 What is Home? with Haniyeh Nikoo
- 049 Shakshouka, Struggle, and Success with Jordan Syatt
- 044 The Art of Forging Bonds Through Culinary Diplomacy with Nermine Mansour
- 007 Jewish Flavors, The World's Flavors with Dikla Levy Frances