ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Food Recipes

Appreciating the Ethiopian Cuisine and Food-sharing Culture

Ethiopian cuisine is known to be very spicy, but one of the most exciting and enticing cuisines worldwide. Previously, the spices were used in preserving the food and meat since refrigeration was very rare. Until today, Ethiopian dishes are extremely flavorful and exceptionally unique, not to mention the fascinating culture of the country.

Communal Food

Primarily, Ethiopian food is considered as communal food as it is eaten with family and friends. The food is always served through a communal platter, which is usually a big one, and designed for sharing. In the Ethiopian culture, food is not designed to be eaten alone. How local Ethiopians eat manifests how they care about each other as they tear off pieces, scoop up delicious stews, and feed those best bites to their loved ones. Thus, the entire practice is referred to as “Gursha”, taking time to eat with loved ones and friends, they care about, and perhaps the great culinary tradition in the country.

Ethiopian National Food

The national food of Ethiopia is called “Wat”, which is a hot spicy stew that is accompanied by “Injera”, which, on the other hand, a very large spongy pancake is made from water and Teff flour. Teff is unique and a tradition in the country, grown on the highlands. Wat is made from varieties of meat ranging from chicken to beef and lamb, combined with lentils, vegetables, and ground split peas. These ingredients are then stewed with “Berbere”, a hot spice.

The Berbere is composed of herbs, spices, dried red hot pepper, garlic, onions, and salt. Basically, all of these dishes are served on a “Mesob”, a large tray; the injera is arranged underneath and then topped with wat. The traditional way of eating this dish is by the fingers, tearing off pieces of injera and then dipping in the wat. According to Ethiopian tradition, the woman who makes the best Berbere has the highest chance of winning a good husband.

Great Shift in Eating Habits

There are some predictions that the way Ethiopians eat will be accepted by the whole world. Evidences show that many people are shifting their eating habits in the way Ethiopians do, which is communal eating. In fact, the food-sharing culture is very evident with dim sum, hot pot soups, shabu-shabu, and tapas dishes that are considered as shared starters or appetizers.

When it comes to the flavor, the transnational palates are becoming more adventurous, and Ethiopian cuisine is amongst the most sought-after, besides the Italian, French, Chinese, Japanese, and Indian cuisines. Although African and Nigerian cuisines are featured very often, Ethiopian cuisine is more recognized and loved than the rest of African cuisines. Hence, Ethiopian food recipes are also becoming prevalent through several materials and sources, not to mention the growing number of Ethiopian restaurants across the globe.