Ethiopian Lentil Stew

Content… What Is It? Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Instructions Serving and Storage Instructions FAQs What to Serve More Delicious Ethiopian Recipes to Try Conclusion Watch How to Make

What Is Ethiopian Lentil Stew?

Ethiopian lentil stew is a classic with wholesome ingredients and warm flavors. It has also been called misir wot, mesir wot, and yemisir wat (wat or wot means food in Amharic). But, whatever you call it, the unique taste is its signature.

Berbere spices give this lentil stew its classic Ethiopian flavors. Making my own allows me to customize it because you know I can’t leave it alone. 😉 And don’t forget super easy Ethiopian spiced ghee. It adds incredible flavor to these stewed lentils, but you can switch it to coconut oil if you want a vegan-friendly meal.

Recipe Ingredients

Stewed lentils make a simple dish with simple ingredients, so it’s easy and satisfying!

• Lentils – These tiny legumes are great nutritionally because a cup boasts 16 grams of protein and a ton of fiber. Oh yeah!
• Spices – Aside from the usual onion, garlic, ginger, cumin, paprika, and parsley, berbere sauce really ramps up this lentil recipe!
• Tomato Paste – Adding tomato paste thickens the stew while adding a lovely combination of sweet and sour.
• Broth – Vegetable broth will make it deliciously vegetarian, while beef or chicken broth will add protein. It just depends on your preferences.

How to Make Lentil Stew

Four Easy Steps

• Soak – Wash your lentils, then let them soak while you prepare the seasonings. (Photos 1-3)
• Sauté Spices – Heat a large saucepan with oil and spiced butter, then add onions, berbere spice, garlic, ginger, cumin, and smoked paprika. Stir occasionally for 2-3 minutes until the onions are translucent. (Photos 4-5)
• Add Lentils – Then add the soaked lentils and tomato paste. Stir and sauté for 2-3 more minutes. Add stock, broth, or water and season with salt. (Photo 6-11)
• Simmer – Bring to a boil and let it simmer until it thickens. It might take about 30 minutes, depending on how you like your lentils. Throw in some parsley, adjust for salt and pepper, and adjust the stew’s consistency. (Photo 12)
• Serve warm with injera.

Recipe Variations

1. Broth Swap – You can choose from vegetable or chicken broth. Use vegetable broth to make it completely vegan or chicken to add more flavor. If you want a stronger taste, use beef broth instead.
2. Meaty Additions – If you want to add meaty protein, sausage, chicken, or beef are excellent choices.

Tips and Tricks

1. Brown lentils taste earthy; green is peppery; red and yellow are sweet. Choose depending on your liking, but my go-to is red or yellow. It’s the family’s fav!
2. Homemade berbere spice is best, but you can purchase it from an Ethiopian market or online.
3. Soaking the lentils for about 2 hours may save cooking time, but it’s not necessary.

Make-Ahead Instructions

You can soak the lentils while prepping the other ingredients, such as onion, garlic, and ginger, then proceed with the recipe. Let the finished lentil stew cool and store it in an airtight container or freezer-safe resealable bag in the fridge or freezer for another day. Just heat them when you’re ready to serve.

Serving and Storage Instructions

Serve it warm after throwing parsley and adjusting the taste. Go for a whole Ethiopian meal experience by serving it with injera.

You can refrigerate the leftovers for five days or freeze them for three months. Reheat on a stove or microwave when ready to serve. You may add more water or broth as needed.

FAQs

What to Serve With Ethiopian Lentil Stew

Aside from injera, you can also try it with these side dishes below for a fantastic fusion of cuisine.

1. Skillet Cornbread
2. Pita Bread
3. Focaccia Bread
4. Baked Plantain
5. Fried Plantains

More Delicious Ethiopian Recipes to Try

1. Ethiopian Cabbage
2. Yataklete Kilkil
3. Ethiopian Collard Greens
4. Doro Wat
5. Niter Kibbeh

Conclusion

This deliciously spicy lentil stew is so easy and satisfying for a stress-free weeknight meal. Does your family do a meat-free day? Tell me in the comments what your menu choices are when you do. ❤️

Watch How to Make It

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This blog post was originally published in December 2015 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.