How to make kushari

A few years back I had the good fortune to travel to Egypt on vacation. We hit all the usual, amazing places: the pyramids of Giza; the beautiful mosques of old Cairo; the tombs of the Valley of the Kings, Karnak, Luxor; and Abu Simbel. 

Less than a week after we got back home, the country exploded in protests, and suddenly everyone around the world had heard of Tahrir Square.  

And everywhere I went there was kushari, the national dish of Egypt. Like ramen in Japan or burgers in America, you can find fancy kushari made with high quality ingredients at good restaurants, but you'll probably want to grab a greasy pile of deliciousness in a cardboard to-go container on the street or in a fast food place. It's easy to make, and all the ingredients are familiar and easy to find. I was so taken with it that I made this "prezipe" to show how to make it. Enjoy!