Ethiopian Lentil Stew

A deliciously healthy and spicy vegetarian lentil recipe with homemade berbere spice, spiced butter, and satisfying lentils. Every spoonful of this delectable meal will have you sighing in pure delight. And you won't even miss the meat!

Course Main

Cuisine African

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 35

Total Time 50

Servings

Calories 352kcal

Author Imma

Ingredients

1-2 tablespoons (14-28g) spiced butter (or coconut oil)
¼ cup (60ml) cooking oil
1 large onion, diced
1½ tablespoons (14g) berbere spice
2 teaspoons (6g) garlic, minced
½ tablespoon (1g) fresh ginger, minced
1 teaspoon (2g) coriander or cumin
1-2 teaspoons (2-4g) smoked paprika
1 cup (200g) lentils, soaked for 2 hours
1 tablespoon (14g) tomato paste
2 cups (475ml) broth (beef, vegetable, chicken, or water)
2 tablespoons (8g) parsley, chopped (or cilantro)
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Wash your lentils, then let them soak while you prepare the seasonings.
Heat a large saucepan with oil and spiced butter, then add onions, berbere spice, garlic, ginger, cumin, and smoked paprika. Stir occasionally for 2-3 minutes until the onions are translucent.
Then add the soaked lentils and tomato paste. Stir and sauté for 2-3 more minutes. Add stock or water and season with salt.
Bring to a boil and let it simmer until it thickens. It might take about 30 minutes, depending on how you like your lentils. Throw in some parsley, adjust for salt and pepper, and adjust the stew's consistency.

Notes

Don't have the spiced butter? You can switch it out with coconut oil.
Brown lentils taste earthy; green is peppery; red and yellow are sweet. Choose depending on your liking, but my go-to is red or yellow. It's the family's fav!
Homemade berbere spice is best, but you can purchase it from an Ethiopian market or online.
Soaking the lentils for about 2 hours may save cooking time, but it's not necessary.
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.

Nutrition