Interesting facts about traditional food in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is known as the "heart of Africa" ​​and the capital Addis Ababa is the "gateway" to that "heart". There is an Ethiopia that is very different from your imagination, not just a tiny country, with slow economic growth. This place has attracted many tourists because of its uniqueness and diversity in nature, culture, and cuisine.

About Ethiopian Food

Traditional Ethiopian foods are typical of African cuisine, the main ingredients are crushed red peppers, garlic, onions, mustard, thyme, ginger, coriander, cloves, and other spices. Ethiopian cuisine in general is a great mix of vegetable dishes and spicy casseroles. In this place, raw meat is especially popular during festivals and celebrations. They consider raw meat to be a hearty dish, providing new energy and vitality to their bodies. Family meals here are served on a giant plate and locals eat with their hands similar to the Indian custom.

The table rule “Gursha” is also quite common here, a person will carefully place the piece of food directly into your mouth as a gesture of respect.

The list below will be your fastest route to the traditional food of Ethiopia. Let's discover with Ethiopia Immigration Services!

Learn more about traditional food in Ethiopia through the top 08 tasty dishes - Give it a try!

1. Injera - Traditional food in Ethiopia

Injera is a traditional food in Ethiopia - a traditional bread, and Ethiopians will enjoy their meals entirely with their hands. This cake is round, flat like a tray, often served with vegetables or stewed meat. Injera is made from teff seeds, the smallest of the nuts, and grown in Ethiopia. In the daily meal, Injera cake will be prepared only with vegetables and wat such as eggs, cheese, or stewed meat.

Nevertheless, when there is a festival or a house with distinguished guests, Injera will be prepared more complicatedly with many layers of small Injera curled on top of the large Injera, served with a variety of sauces and other condiments.

Injera - Traditional food in Ethiopia

2. Berbere - Popular food in Ethiopia

Berbere is a mixture of chili peppers and spices used to season many popular foods in Ethiopia. It contains ground fenugreek, chili, paprika, ginger, onion powder, cardamom, coriander, nutmeg, garlic, cloves, and cinnamon. Looking at the spice composition of Berbere, it can be seen that it has a characteristic pungent taste, which is also the main flavor of foods in Ethiopia.

Berbere is a popular food in Ethiopia

3. Wat - the most popular food in Ethiopia

Wat is the common name for stews made from meat and vegetables. Doro Wat (cooked from chicken), Sega Wat (cooked from beef) are the two most popular food in Ethiopia that you can easily find in any restaurant or traditional rice tray.

Wat is the most popular food in Ethiopia

4. Kitfo - the best food in Ethiopia

What makes Kitfo special is that they are made entirely of raw meat. The food is made from beef that is still red, after being washed, it will be ground until smooth. Unlike the Western Tartare, Kitfo will mix more local spices including butter and herbs.

To enjoy Kitfo in the most delicious way, usually enjoyed by hand, pieces of meat are cleverly wrapped in bread and then dipped in sauce to increase the richness and flavor. Despite making tourists "run away", Kitfo is still the Ethiopian best food present at all parties and festivals in Ethiopia.

Kitfo - the best food in Ethiopia

5. Yetsom Beyaynetu - Ethiopian traditional food

If you like Ethiopian traditional food, you should try Yetsom Beyaynetu - the vegetarian combination platter. It’s made up of a mix of vegan curries and vegetables served on a plate of injera. Yetsom means fasting and Beyaynetu means combination platter.

Yetsom Beyaynetu - the vegetarian combination platter

6. Asa - Traditional food of Ethiopia

Eating Asa fish in Ethiopia is quite an interesting experience. Typically, a fish such as the Nile perch is fried and served whole, with its mouth open with small jagged teeth that look like you have a Piranha on your plate.

As always, it is eaten by hand with mixed bread or rice paper, accompanied by a fiery sauce for dipping. Stick with a few bones, Ethiopians eat it bit by bit, and that's right – the grilled fins are especially delicious, so it's always been a traditional food of Ethiopia.

Asa - Traditional food of Ethiopia

7. Shekla Tips - one of the most popular food in Ethiopia

Shekla Tibs is sliced beef or lamb, pan-fried in butter, garlic and onion, it is one of the must try foods in Ethiopia. It comes in many forms, varying in type, size, or form of cuts of meat used, and can range from hot to mild or contain little or no vegetables. One particular variation is the Shekla Tibs, in which strips of meat arrive at your table, grilled on the ground with heat - impressive and delicious.

Shekla Tips - one of the most popular food in Ethiopia

8. Dulet - National food of Ethiopia

Dulet is made with a minced pork belly (an animal's stomach lining), along with liver and lean beef fried with butter, onion, chili, cardamom, and pepper. Dulet is extremely unique and a great meat dish compared to all other national foods of Ethiopia.

Dulet is extremely unique and a great meat dish

For a safe trip to Ethiopia, international travelers are advised to a apply for an Ethiopia Visa Online. With our experienced staff, we can make it easier for you to get an e Visa for your trip to Ethiopia. Before applying, you can read more about Ethiopia's visa requirements for international visitors here.

What are you waiting for, come here and enjoy the uniqueness of traditional Ethiopian foods!!