CAIRO: You may find it hard to believe that a dish consisting almost entirely of carbohydrates could actually fit in with your diet. If you're a kushari fan but the doctor has ordered you not to eat it for a bevy of health reasons, Abu Tarik, the biggest kushari shop in town, has the solution. The innovative eatery will soon cater to all your special needs, whether you're on a strict weight loss regimen, suffer from diabetes or simply if you play sport or model and need to stay in shape. Preparations are in full swing to launch diet kushari, according to Tarik Yousif, son of the owner and manager of the reputed mammoth five-storey kushari outlet Abu Tarik located in the downtown area. "I thought about it as I sat with people who regretted they couldn't eat kushari either because they were diabetic or because they had weight problems. I then thought a new type of kushari dish would come in handy for these groups. As soon as people got wind of the new dish through a mention on Dream TV, telephone calls started the shop. "This response was a very encouraging start that beckoned serious work on the plan, noted Tarik. Pondering the idea of introducing diet kushari, Tarik has referred to several specialists who will review the ingredients of the new meal and check if it is in line with dietary guidelines. "I have been told by many experts that an ordinary kushari dish made up of six table spoons of rice, four spoons of pasta and four brown lentils contains between 800 to 850 calories, said Tarik. The number of calories in the new dish is expected to go down by half, according to Tarik who was told by specialists that kushari is not a health hazard compared to sweets and other items containing sugar, provided it is made up of the right amounts and ingredients. "In the new dish quality not quantity will change, noted Tarik. "Instead of Egyptian rice we will use long grain rice that contains less starch, he said. The amount of diet-friendly lentils could also be increased. Brown pasta will replace traditional pasta. We will also pure refined oil to make the red sauce and fry the onion rings, he added. Tarik pointed out that for his outlet to be on the safe side, besides regularly following the instructions of experts, he will distribute a brochure with each diet kushari dish served so that people are aware of the pros and cons. "The fact that it is diet kushari doesn't mean that people can have unlimited amounts of it, said Tarik. Diet kushari has less starch but is not starch-free and the fact that starch-containing items like bread and rice are included in small amounts in every diet is what has fuelled the concept of diet kushari. Tarik is reluctant to uncover more details of his plans that, he reiterated, will kick off with the assistance of specialists. Even though the idea of diet kushari might require extensive promotion to get the concept through to the less health-conscious public, Tarik insists that the best way to invite them to know about it is through word of mouth. "You never know how the plans will unfold, said Tarik. "I don't have any special expectations. But once I decide to introduce the dish I have to get sufficient supplies of the ingredients. Tarik says that he can't start small. If his maverick idea hits the jackpot, he can't wait until he orders large amounts of the ingredients. On the third floor of Abu Tarik, which just opened last month, there is a bench that is all propped to serve diet kushari Unsure of how viable the idea will be on the business side, Abu Tarik is ready to take the risk, determined to boost the kushari business region-wide. Diet kushari is just the first step.
