Ethiopian Mild Split Lentils Stew Yemser Alicha Food

ALICHA (ETHIOPIAN STEW)

Steps:

• Cook onions and garlic in oil until transparent.
• Wash and chop vegetables and add them to the onions, lightly browning.
• Add nutmeg, garlic and cardamom then cook slowly for 30 mins.
• Season to taste then add chilli, parsley and basil just before serving.

ETHIOPIAN MILD SPLIT LENTILS STEW (YEMSER ALICHA)

Steps:

• Bring to boil 4 cups of water in a medium pot. Rinse the lentils with fresh water and add to it to the boiling water. Cook it for 5 minutes.
• Remove the foam with spoon and discard. Lightly drain the extra water in a container or a cup.
• Meanwhile sauté the onion with ½ cup of water and oil for 5 minutes or until tender.
• To the cooked onion, add ½ cup of water, garlic, ginger, white pepper, curry or turmeric. Stir for 5 minutes;.
• Combine the lentils and the sauce. Mix well. If more water needed, use the water which is set aside. Cook the Stew for 15 minutes or until it simmers.
• Add salt, hot green pepper and mix it well. Remove from heat. Serve it warm or cold.
• Some of the spices could be found in Ethiopian or Indian shops/groceries.

ETHIOPIAN BEEF JERKY AND SPLIT LENTILS STEW (QUWANTA-MISER WOT)

Steps:

• Sauté the onion with ½ cup of water and two tablespoons of oil for 5 minutes or until tender.
• 2nd Step: To the cooked onion add half cup of water, chili powder (berbere), butter, garlic and black pepper. Stir for 10 minutes.
• To the boiling sauce, add half cup of water, fried meat without grease or beef jerky and cook it until tender (10 minutes).
• Meanwhile, bring to boil 4 cups of water in a medium pot. Rinse the lentils with fresh water and add to it. Cook for 5 minutes.
• Remove the foam with spoon from the lentils and discard . Lightly drain the extra water in a container or a cup.
• Combine the lentils and the beef jerky sauce. Mix well. If more water is needed, use the set-aside water. Cook the stew for 20 minutes or until it simmers.
• Add false cardamom and salt to taste. Remove from heat. Serve it warm with Injera, pita bread etc.

ALICHA

Steps:

• In dry pan over medium heat, stir fry onions for 2 minutes
• Add the oil and stir fry 1 minute longer. Add the meat and brown 5 mins, stirring frequently. Add all of the spices and seasonings at one time and stir well.
• Add the water and bring to a boil. Cover the pan and cook over moderate heat for about 45 mins, or until the meat is tender.
• Should the curry dry out too quickly, add another 1/2c water.
• At the end of the 45 mins, there should be very little sauce.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

ETHIOPIAN SPICY SPLIT LENTIL STEW (YIMSER WOT)

Steps:

• Bring to boil 4 cups of water in a medium pot. Rinse the lentils with fresh water and add to it. Cook for 5 minutes.
• Remove the foam with spoon and discard . Lightly drain the extra water in a container or a cup.
• Meanwhile, sauté the onion with ½ cup of water and one tablespoon of oil for 5 minutesor until tender.
• To the cooked onion add one cup of water, hot red chili powder (berbere), the rest of the oil, garlic and black pepper. Stir for 10 minutes.
• Combine the lentils and sauce. Mix well. If more water is needed, use the set-aside water. Cook the stew for 20 minutes until it simmers.
• Add false cardamom and salt to taste. Remove from heat. Serve it warm or cold.
• P.S. To make it mild, you may use tomato sauce.
• * You will find these spices in Ethiopian or Indian shops/groceries.

ETHIOPIAN GROUND BEEF MILD STEW (MINCHET-ABESH ALICHA)

Steps:

• In medium pot sauté the onion using one cup of boiled water by adding two tablespoon each time until the onion is soft and golden brown.
• In the cooked onion, add one cup boiled water, purified butter, garlic, ginger, bishop weeds, wine and turmeric. Cook for 5 minutes.
• On a baking pan, spread the ground beef and cook it in oven or stir-fry until brown.
• Sprinkle the stir-fry ground beef in the sauce; mix well; add two cups boiled water; cover and cook it for 20 minutes or until simmers.
• Add to the stew white pepper, salt and false cardamom; cook it for 5 minutes; remove from heat.
• Serve it hot with Injera, rice, bread or as desired.
• * You will find these spices in Ethiopian or Indian shops/groceries.
• ** Please go to www.yewoinfamilycooking.com to see how to prepare Clarified/Purified Butter (Nitir Kebe).

ETHIOPIAN MILD LAMB STEW (YEBEG ALICHA)

Steps:

• Cut the ribs in smaller sizes and the meat in small strips, wash it with cold water.
• Boil water in large pot; add the cleaned ribs and the meat; cook it for 10 minutes and strain.
• In medium heat, cook the onion with two cups of water (adding the water gradually); stir continuously until tender (10-15 minutes).
• Add the butter, garlic, ginger-root juice, bishop weed and cook for five minutes.
• Add the ribs and the meat; stir for five minutes; put four cups of water and turmeric; cover and cook for 30 minutes.
• Add false cardamom, salt to taste and cook to simmer; at the end, add the hot peppers and remove from heat.