Recipe: Make Ethiopian injera with veggies at home
Injera, a staple of Ethiopian cuisine, is a sourdough-risen flatbread with a unique, slightly spongy texture. Traditionally made from teff flour, it's served with various veggie and lentil stews. This dish offers a dive into Ethiopia's rich culinary culture and caters to vegetarian and eggless diet preferences. Let's get cooking to bring a taste of Ethiopia to your table.
Gather the following ingredients
For the injera, gather two cups teff flour, three cups water, and one-half teaspoon salt. For the veggie medley, you will need one large onion (chopped), two carrots (sliced), one bell pepper (chopped), two cups spinach leaves, one cup green beans (trimmed), three tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper to taste, and spices such as turmeric and cumin for added flavor.
Preparing the injera batter
In a large bowl, mix two cups of teff flour with three cups of water. Stir well to ensure it is smooth and lump-free. Cover the bowl with a clean cloth and let it sit at room temperature for one to three days to ferment. This fermentation process is vital as it imparts the injera with its distinctive tangy flavor.
Cooking the injera
After fermentation, stir in half a teaspoon of salt into the batter. Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat. Pour enough batter to cover the bottom of the pan in a thin layer. Cook until bubbles form on top and the edges start lifting from the pan—no need to flip it. Remove from pan and set aside.
Preparing veggie medley
Heat olive oil in another pan over medium heat. First, add the onions and cook until they become translucent. Then, incorporate the carrots and green beans, cooking them until they're slightly tender but still crisp. Finally, stir in the bell peppers and spinach leaves, seasoning with spices like turmeric or cumin for an extra layer of flavor.
Combining and serving
Once all vegetables are cooked yet still vibrant in color, season them with salt and pepper according to taste. Serve this delightful veggie medley atop your freshly made injera breads for an authentic Ethiopian meal experience right at home. This simple yet flavorful recipe brings you closer to experiencing Ethiopian culture through its cuisine. It strictly adheres to vegetarian and eggless dietary preferences.
