Ethiopian Food

Ethiopian food comes from Ethiopia, a country in East Africa. It has unique flavors that are different from any other cuisine. Instead of using forks and knives, Ethiopians eat with a special spongy flatbread called injera. Different stews and salads are placed on top of the injera, and you tear off pieces to scoop up the food.

Popular Ethiopian Dishes

Injera is the base of almost every Ethiopian meal. It is a large, spongy flatbread made from a grain called teff. Doro wat is a spicy chicken stew that is one of Ethiopia's most famous dishes. Misir wat is a red lentil stew seasoned with a spice blend called berbere. Shiro is a smooth, thick stew made from ground chickpeas.

How Ethiopians Eat

Eating Ethiopian food is a hands-on experience. A big piece of injera is placed on a large plate, and different foods are spooned on top. Everyone shares from the same plate, tearing off pieces of injera to grab bites of food. In Ethiopian culture, feeding someone else by hand is a sign of friendship and love.

Fun Facts

• Ethiopia is believed to be the birthplace of coffee.
• Teff, the grain used to make injera, is one of the smallest grains in the world.
• Ethiopian food has many vegan dishes because of religious fasting traditions.

Did You Know?

Ethiopia has its own calendar with 13 months, and Ethiopians have a special coffee ceremony that can take over an hour!