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8 recipes · Ethiopia

Ethiopian kitchen

8 Ethiopian recipes you can cook at home, from Beef Tibs, Doro Wat (Ethiopian Chicken Stew) and Misir Wat (Ethiopian Red Lentil Stew) to Himbasha (Ethiopian Sweet Bread).

8 recipes

About Ethiopian food

The Ethiopian kitchen

On many Ethiopian tables, injera is both bread and the surface beneath a selection of stews and vegetables. Its fermented tang meets berbere-spiced lentils, slowly cooked onion sauces and mild turmeric-colored peas. Niter kibbeh, a seasoned clarified butter, adds fragrance to some meat dishes, while many vegetable preparations use oil.

A varied plate balances heat with gentler flavors: red lentils beside collard greens, or chicken stew with a mild split pea spoonful. Cook the onion base patiently and adjust the chile blend to its strength. Keep berbere, pulses, garlic and ginger on hand, and serve small portions of several preparations together when time allows.

Questions, answered

Is all Ethiopian food spicy?

No. Berbere-based stews can be hot, but alicha preparations, greens and many vegetable sides are mild. A mixed plate often includes both.

What is injera made from?

Injera is a fermented flatbread commonly made with teff, sometimes blended with other grains. It has a porous surface that holds sauce and a noticeably tangy flavor.

Are there vegan Ethiopian dishes?

Yes. Lentil stews, split peas and vegetable dishes are often made with oil. Ask about niter kibbeh or other butter additions, since similar-looking preparations can use different fats.

What can replace niter kibbeh?

Ghee is the closest readily available fat. Small amounts of cardamom and fenugreek add some of the missing aroma, though the result will not reproduce a full Ethiopian spiced butter blend.

What Ethiopian dishes can I make at home?

Start with Atakilt Wat (Ethiopian Cabbage and Potatoes), Beef Tibs, Doro Wat (Ethiopian Chicken Stew), Gomen (Ethiopian Collard Greens) and Himbasha (Ethiopian Sweet Bread). Every recipe here is written for a home kitchen, with substitutes for anything hard to find.

What's the quickest Ethiopian recipe?

Beef Tibs, ready in 38 min.