Check out this Ethiopian injera with spiced lentils recipe
Ethiopian injera with spiced lentils is a traditional dish from Ethiopia, known for its rich culinary heritage. It features injera, a spongy, sour flatbread, paired with a hearty lentil stew. This staple of Ethiopian cuisine is also popular among vegetarians and vegans globally for its wholesome ingredients. Let's start cooking and bring the flavors of Ethiopia to your table.
Gather the following ingredients
For the injera, you will need teff flour and water as your primary ingredients. Teff flour is a staple in Ethiopian cuisine, known for its nutritional benefits and gluten-free properties. This combination will undergo a fermentation process to achieve the injera's signature sour taste. Ensure you have these ingredients ready as they form the base of this traditional Ethiopian dish.
Preparing the injera batter
In a large bowl, mix teff flour with water until well combined. Then, cover and set it aside at room temperature for one to three days, depending on your climate, to ferment. This fermentation is crucial as it imparts the injera with its distinctive sour flavor. After fermenting, stir half a teaspoon of salt into the batter.
Cooking the injera
Heat a non-stick pan on medium. Pour half a cup of batter into the pan's center, tilting to evenly spread it thin. Cook until holes form on the surface and edges start to lift, about two minutes. Then, cover with a lid for an additional minute until it's fully cooked yet pliable. Remove and keep warm while cooking the remaining batter.
Preparing spiced lentils
In another pot, heat olive oil on medium. Saute onions until translucent, then add garlic and ginger, cooking until fragrant. Quickly incorporate berbere spice, followed by rinsed lentils and either water or vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes or until lentils are tender but firm; season with salt to taste.
Serving suggestions
To serve, place an injera on each plate as a base, then spoon spiced lentils over half of it, allowing guests or family members to tear pieces of injera from around their plate using their hands - this is part of enjoying an authentic Ethiopian meal experience! Optionally garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley if desired.
