If you are a food lover and want to experiment with different textures and spices, Ethiopian food will satisfy your taste buds.
Ethiopian cuisine usually consists of vegetables, spicy meat, and bread. The bread is served with different selections of meat stews depending on the cultural group you choose to eat from, since each group presents their meals differently. Despite this difference, the ingredients remain fundamentally the same as well as the method of cooking.
Ethiopian food is quite special as well in that it must be eaten by the use of fingers and shared from one shared platter. This practice may seem strange at first, but it is in the spirit of the culture and creates a wonderful bonding moment with whoever you choose to eat with.
Here is our top ten Ethiopian foods to eat before you die:
1. Itto
Itto is a blend of vegetables and meats. The mixture is made into a thick spicy paste that is then served with Injera. Traditionally Itto is a dish prepared from leftovers derived from other Ethiopian foods in order to avoid food wastage.
2. Doro Alicha
Doro is an Ethiopian chicken dish. This is usually served for special occasions. Just like many other Ethiopian dishes, it is cooked with a lot of butter, and then served with vegetable salad and Injera (Ethiopian flat bread).
3. Lentils with sweet potatoes or yams
This easy to make dish can be easily managed by anyone with basic cooking skills. The only challenge might be the amount of spice to add to flavor the dish appropriately. The dish is usually served on its own.
4. Tibs
This dish served on special occasions. It is meat sautéed with or without vegetables. The variety of Tibs depends on which meat is being used, and can be served mild or hot depending on your preference. Tibs can be compared to grilled meat, with the difference being in the seasoning.
5. Kitfo
Kitfo is raw minced beef marinated in spicy chilli powder and seasoned butter. Ayibe, a mild cottage cheese, may be served on the side to soften the effect of the spice. This cheese has no distinct taste, so it will not interfere with the savors of the Kitfo. A vegetarian version of the Kitfo called Gomen kitfo uses collard greens instead of minced beef.
6. Chuuco
This tasty and healthy dish consists of whole grains called besso, which is flavored with berbere and butter.
7. Injera
This is a large sourdough bread that accompanies almost every Ethiopian meal. The bread is made from fermented teff flour, but it can also be prepared unleavened. The bread can also be mildly spiced depending on which meal it is accompanying.
8. Tsebhi sga
This beef based dish is one of the most common dishes in Ethiopia. It is served usually at dinner with Injera and Tej, an Ethiopian honey wine. The beef is spiced and served with seasoned butter.
9. Chechebsa (also known as fit-fit)
This is known for being one of the most delicious Ethiopian foods and is a favorite among the locals. Chechebsa is a typical breakfast food consisting of unleavened bread which is shredded and stir-fried either in spices or seasoned butter and berbere spice mixture, which is a basic ingredient in most Ethiopian dishes.
10. Dabo Kolo
These are little fried foods usually served as snacks with cocktails and other beverages. They looked like flat peanuts once fried.
Let us know what you think of our list, and feel free to share any more dishes we might have missed.
