18 Ethiopian Foods You Need to Try
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Loading... - Nafula Muinde
- 24 Mar 2022
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Ethiopia’s history and culture have played an integral role in shaping the country’s cuisine, meaning so many of these dishes are far more than mere food for the body, and a way of life for millions of Ethiopians.
Join us on an utterly fascinating journey through the foods of Ethiopia, as we discover 18 of the country’s most popular dishes as recommended by a local.
Ethiopian Food
Before we begin, here are some common ingredients in Ethiopian cuisine you will see throughout this article:
- kibe – spice-infused butter, essential to Ethiopian cooking,
- berbere – blended powder of various spices,
- injera – fermented flatbread made from teff flour, and
- ayib – traditional cottage cheese.
Breakfast
1 – Chechebsa (Shredded Flatbread)
Chechebsa is a popular breakfast throughout Ethiopia. It is a dish of fried tortilla shredded into bite-sized pieces, cooked with kibe (Ethiopian butter) or oil, and berbere (spiced chili pepper powder) for flavoring.
Chechebsa is often served with a side of honey or plain yogurt, along with a cup of tea or a glass of milk. What a way to start the day!
2 – Kinche (Oatmeal)
While kinche is a popular breakfast dish, it can also be eaten with other dishes at lunch or dinner. This nutritious food is a simple dish of cracked wheat, boiled in water or milk, mixed with Ethiopian butter or oil, and, optionally, fried onions.
Kinche is very much seen as an Ethiopian take on oatmeal. People across the country enjoy this popular breakfast food with a glass of milk or tea.
It can be consumed as a non-fasting dish when it is prepared with oil and fried onions, but not butter.
3 – Genfo (Porridge)
Genfo is a rich and thick hot porridge made from dry roasted barley flour. It is usually served for breakfast with a blend of berbere, spices, and kibe, and often consumed with a hot drink, such as tea or Ethiopian coffee.
In Ethiopia, it is tradition for new moms to eat genfo after they have given birth. In fact, it is very common for friends, family, and relatives of the new mom to gather and eat genfo with her, together.
The dish is believed to help new moms gain back strength and heal quickly. In Ethiopia, expecting moms and their family and friends also take part in a genfo tasting ceremony a few months before the expecting mom’s delivery date.
4 – Fir-Fir (Sautéed Injera)
Fir-fir is a breakfast dish of shredded injera (a fermented flatbread made from teff flour), onion, berbere, garlic, oil or Ethiopian butter, and chili pepper.
A diverse food, many different variations of fir-fir can be made. Dirkosh fir-fir uses dried injera, while kuanta fir-fir adds spiced beef to the mixture. You can also enjoy a milder fir-fir by substituting some of the spices with turmeric or tomato sauce.
The dish only takes a few minutes to prepare, and it is best enjoyed with tea or Ethiopian coffee for a hearty breakfast with plenty of kick.
5 – Enkulal Firfir (Scrambled Egg)
Enkual fir-fir is a wholesome dish of eggs cooked in kibe or oil, with green and red peppers, chili, tomatoes, and onions. In addition, this dish is served with a delicious slice of bread or injera, and it is a popular choice at breakfast for toddlers and children. Read More...
