Ethiopian Red Lentils Food

MESIR WAT (ETHIOPIAN RED LENTILS)

Steps:

• Puree onion, garlic, and ginger in a food processor or blender.
• Heat oil, butter or niter kibbeh in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add turmeric, paprika and cayenne pepper and stir rapidly to color oil and cook spices through, about 30 seconds. Add onion puree and sauté on medium heat until excess moisture evaporates and onion loses its raw aroma, about 5-10 minutes. Do not burn.
• Add lentils and water. Bring to a boil and simmer till lentils are cooked through and fall apart, about 30-40 minutes. Add water if necessary to keep from drying out. This should be the consistency of a thick paste so that it can be scooped up with injera.
• Stir in salt and pepper to taste and serve.

MISIR WOT (SPICY RED LENTILS)

Steps:

• Place the lentils in a large bowl and fill with cold water. Massage the lentils with your hands to remove any dirt or debris. Rinse the lentils a few times until the water runs clear. This may require several rinses. Soak the lentils in lukewarm water for approximately 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the onions and tomatoes to a large pot and cook over medium heat until beginning to soften, about 4 minutes. Add the olive oil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Make sure the onions do not get too dark. Add the berbere and continue to cook until the berbere is fully combined with the onion and tomato mixture, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 cup water and cook the tomato, onion and berbere mixture until it reduces and begins to stick to the pan, about 10 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, scrape the bottom of the pot to bring up the stuck tomatoes and onions. Add another 1 cup water and allow the mixture to reduce again for another 10 minutes. Scrape the bottom of the pot. Add 1 cup water more, reduce again for 10 minutes then scrape the bottom of the pot (Adding and reducing 3 times will give your lentils a rich and layered flavor.) Be sure not to step away from the pot during this process. As Azla says, "Misir wot has jealous tendencies and wants your full, undivided attention from start to finish."
• Strain the soaked lentils in a colander and allow them to drain for a few minutes. Meanwhile, add 8 cups water to the pot and bring to a rolling boil. Add the lentils, reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thick and the lentils are tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Finish with the ground nutmeg and sea salt to taste. Serve with injera or your favorite whole grain.

SPICY ETHIOPIAN RED LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion to pan; cook 15 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add ginger and garlic; cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in tomato paste and Berbere spice; cook 1 minute, stirring to combine. Gradually add broth, stirring with a whisk until blended. Increase heat to medium-high; bring to a simmer.
• Rinse lentils in cold water; drain. Add lentils to broth mixture; simmer, partially covered, 35 minutes or until lentils are tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in salt. Sprinkle with cilantro. Serve over rice.

ETHIOPIAN LENTILS WITH BEREBERE SPICE MIX

Steps:

• LENTILS:.
• Bring lentils and broth to boil and simmer 10 minutes.
• Add chiles, onion, garlic, and Berebere spices. Cook covered for another 30 minutes, until most of liquid is absorbed.
• Serve with ground black pepper to taste.
• For a vegetarian meal, these lentils are good with a dollop of yogurt, brown rice and sliced tomatoes.
• BEREBERE SPICE MIX:.
• Toast all the seeds and whole cloves in a small frying pan for 2 minutes, stirring constantly (open window or turn on the stove vent--it can smoke). Grind the spices in a spice grinder. If you are using pre-ground spices, ignore and go on to the next step.
• Mix all remaining ingredients. Place in a tightly covered container and refrigerate. This mixture can used with many combinations of legumes, rice or vegetables.
• NOTE: *OR: 1 bell pepper chopped + 14-oz can chopped green chiles.
• NOTE TWO : There are two ways to make this berebere spice mix - with whole spices that you grind, or with powdered versions of the spices. The first way gives you a more powerful flavor, but it may be more practical the second way, particularly if you don't have a spice grinder.
• Yield: 6 to 10 servings.

ETHIOPIAN-STYLE LENTILS WITH YAMS (OR SWEET POTATOES)

Steps:

• saute the onion, garlic, ginger and yam in olive oil at medium heat until the onions are almost translucent.
• add the red bell pepper and saute for an additional minute.
• add the lentils, tomato paste and water.
• bring water to a boil.
• add the paprika, coriander, allspice, fenugreek and ginger.
• lower heat slightly and allow the stew to simmer for 20 minutes or until the lentils are tender and all the water absorbed.
• add salt, soy sauce and black pepper as needed, and serve.