African Food and Art

This blog explores the wisdom of African proverbs, the depth of folklore, the beauty of art, the stories of history, and the flavors of timeless African food recipes.

Egyptian Red Onion Potato Salad

Egyptian red onion potato salad, Egypt walking onions and hieroglyphics recipe and facts.

Egyptian walking onions were used as hieroglyphics
Egyptian walking onions were used as hieroglyphics

Egyptians love growing, eating and revering onions; walking onions were used as hieroglyphics and the rings inside round onions were thought of as a cosmic symbol of the universe. The Onion, if suspended in a room, possesses the magical powers of attracting and absorbing sicknesses, they were used during burials of Pharaohs.

What are Hieroglyphics? Egyptian Hieroglyphics are characters in which symbols represent objects and ideas read from left to right. Hieroglyphics can be pictures of living creatures such as an owl, objects used in daily life such as a basket or symbols such as lasso.

Most of the pictures stand for the object they represent, but usually, they stand for sounds. Egyptian Hieroglyphics are characters which symbols represent ideas. Hieroglyphics are pics of living things and objects used in daily life.

The Onion was also formerly held in the highest esteem as a religious symbol in the divinations of the Egyptians. To dream of Onions is considered of evil augury, portending sickness and misfortune.


Egypt Onion Production

Onions are one of Egypt’s most important export crops after oranges and potatoes. Egypt is the world’s third highest onion producing country and Africa’s top onion producing country. Egyptians are credited as being one of the first groups of people to practice agriculture on a large scale with agriculture almost entirely dependent on irrigation from the Nile River.

Egypt, Sudan and Algeria are the three leading onion producing African countries in the world.


Top 10 Onion Producing African Countries

Egypt

Sudan

Algeria

Niger

Nigeria

Morocco

South Africa

Senegal

Uganda

Ethiopia


Onion bulbs are boiled, fried, fresh, dried, frozen, canned, pickled, and used in salads and soup. Certain varieties of onions are preferred for certain dishes. Yellow onions have a strong flavor and are very sharp-tasting while white onions have mid-tone flavors and red onions have a mild taste usually used raw in salads and sandwiches or picked. Green onions also have a mild taste and can be eaten raw or cooked.

Whole uncut raw onion bulbs can be stored for without deteriorating in a cool, dry, dark place for around 2-3 months. In many Egyptian onion-growing regions, it is a major source of income for rural families who sell their produce in local, regional and international markets.

Recipe. Egyptians love growing, eating and revering onions. Make red onion potato salad just like a home chef from Egypt.


Egyptian Onion Potato Salad

Ingredients

5 large medium-starch potatoes

2 medium red onions, chopped

2 hardboiled eggs

¼ cup finely chopped green onions

¼ cup finely chopped parsley

¼ cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic, chopped

¼ cup lemon juice

To taste salt and pepper


Directions

Cook, peel and dice the potatoes. Peel and chop the eggs. Place the potatoes, eggs, white onions and green onions, parsley, and oil in a large salad bowl. In a separate bowl, crush the garlic with the salt, add lemon juice and stir. Add the dressing to the other ingredients and toss. Serve chilled.

Did you know? Egypt walking onions are also known as tree onions can withstand below zero temperatures. Many tree onions are very strong flavored, although some plant varieties are mild and sweet.

Egyptian hieroglyphics plants flowers seeds
Egyptian hieroglyphics plants flowers seeds

What do the hieroglyphics symbols mean?

A an Egyptian vulture
B a foot
C a basket with handle
D a hand
E a reed
F a horned viper, an Egyptian snake
G a jar-stand
H a reed shelter
I a reed
J a cobra
K the basket with the handle
L a lion
M an owl
N a zigzag symbol for water
O a lasso
P a square stool
Q a symbol for the slope of a hill
R a mouth
S a piece of linen folded over
T a bun
U a quail chick
V a horned viper
W a quail chick
X a basket and folded linen
Y two reeds
Z a door bolt
CH a hobble
KH a ball of string
SH the rectangle which is the symbol for land


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