Ethiopian cuisine generally consists of vegetables, spicy meat dishes, and bread. Now, if you are a food lover and particularly one with a soft spot for spice and art, Ethiopian food will definitely surprise you. A typical Ethiopian meal will consist of bread (injera) served with different spicy meat stews(wats) depending on the cultural group you choose to eat from. The cultural groups will also present their foods differently. However, despite the difference in cultural groups, the ingredients and methods of preparing and serving their dishes remain largely the same, the unifying factor is that all the dishes are just delicious! Food is life and since we only live once, below is a number of 10 yummy Ethiopian foods you must eat before you die.
10 Delicious Ethiopian Foods You Must Eat Before You Die
1. Tibs
Tibs is a dish mostly made for special occasions. Basically, Tibs is meat sautéed with or without vegetables. There are quite a variety of Tibs cuisines but all depends on the type of meat used, size and even shapes of the cut meat. Tibs will then be served either hot or mild depending on your preference. Tibs can be compared closely to grilled meat. The big difference is in seasoning and serving.
2. Chechebsa also Known as fit-fit
Now, this is one of the most delicious Ethiopian foods and one that is on top of my favourite Ethiopian dish list. Chechesba is a typical breakfast food that is not only very appealing to the eye but also very tasty. It is like biting into a little piece of heaven. Fit-fit consists of bread (kitcha) which is unleavened. This bread is shredded and stir-fried either in Wat or spices, seasoned butter (niter kibbeh) and berbere spice mixture which is a basic ingredient in most Ethiopian dishes. It is a perfect dish to kick-off the day with.
3. Kitfo
Kitfo consists of raw minced beef marinated in a very spicy chilli powder and seasoned butter. Ayibe, a mild cottage cheese may be served on the side to soften the effect of the chilli. Ayibe has no distinct taste. There is also Gomen kitfo which uses collard greens in place of the beef mince.
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4. Chuuco
This is a tasty dish consisting of whole grain also known as Besso which is then flavoured with berbere and butter. Chuuco is also a healthy food.
5. Ethiopian Lentils with Sweet Potatoes or Yams.
This is one of the Ethiopian dishes that anyone with a good cooking hand can manage to make. It is pretty easy and quick to make. The only challenge you might face is in adding of the spices(amounts). This dish is served on its own but can also be served as a wat.
6. Injera
Injera is a large sourdough flatbread that is part of almost every Ethiopian meal. The bread is made from fermented teff flour but can also be prepared unleavened. Injera can be mildly spiced to add flavour or left un-spiced if it is to be served with spicy wats.
7. Itto
Itto is a blend of all wats including vegetables and meats. The mixture is made into a thick spicy wat that is then served with Injera. Traditionally, Itto is a dish prepared with leftovers to avoid food wastage. But now it has been accepted as a unique dish on its own and can be found on most Ethiopian food menus.
8. Tsebhi sga
This is a beef dish that is one of the most common and popular dishes. It is mostly served as a dinner food accompanied by Injera and Tej (an Ethiopian honey wine). The beef is quite spicy especially with the chilli used in making it. Tsebhi is served with seasoned butter.
9. Doro Alicha
Doro is an Ethiopian chicken dish. It is a food mostly served for special occasions. Just like many other Ethiopian dishes, Doro is prepared with a lot of butter. It is then served alongside vegetable salads and Injera.
10. Dabo Kolo
These are little fried foods usually served as snacks. They are quite tasty and once you start eating them, stopping will not be an option. Once fried, they look like flat peanuts. Dabo Kolo’s are served with cocktails or other beverages.
Despite the names of this Ethiopian dishes being quite complicated and hard to pronounce, the foods are a delicacy that is worth a trip to an Ethiopian restaurant. Once you get here, you might be surprised by the fact that there will be no silverware anywhere. Ethiopian food is traditionally eaten by use of ones fingers and from the same platter with friends or family. The practice might seem strange at first but once you are accustomed, you will enjoy it.