SPICY ETHIOPIAN LENTIL STEW

SPICY ETHIOPIAN LENTIL STEW

This Ethiopian lentil stew is made with veggies and hearty potatoes simmered in berbere-spiced red lentils, for a healthy and flavor-packed dish that’s totally doable on a busy weeknight.

If you go to an Ethiopian restaurant you should find something on the menu that looks something like this dish, but it would be called misir wat, and it would be incredibly delicious. I had no idea when I first tried that dish how easy it was to make at home, but here it is, something very no-fuss that you can easily cook up on a weeknight in one pot.

I threw some extras into my stew, just because I like extras. The potatoes, tomatoes and spinach wouldn’t be found in traditional versions of the dish, at least as far as I’m aware, but who doesn’t love potatoes, tomatoes and spinach?

This Ethiopian lentil stew is made with veggies and hearty potatoes simmered in berbere-spiced red lentils, for a healthy and flavor-packed dish that's totally doable on a busy weeknight.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 tsp. freshly grated ginger
• 1-2 tbsp. berbere spice blend, to taste, I went with 2 tablespoons but I like lots of spice
• 1/2-1 tsp. cayenne pepper, or to taste, optional
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 1/2 cups dried red lentils
• 1-14 oz. can diced tomatoes
• 3 medium red potatoes, about 3/4 lb. total, diced
• 3 cups fresh spinach leaves, sliced and lightly packed
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Coat the bottom of a large pot with oil and place over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, berbere spice and cayenne and sauté 1 minute more.
2. Add broth, lentils, tomatoes and potatoes. Stir a few times, raise heat and bring to a simmer. Lower heat and allow to cook until lentils are very soft and potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes. Stir in spinach and continue to cook just until wilted, about 2 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste. You can also add a bit more berbere and cayenne, if desired.
4. Serve.

Recipe Source:connoisseurusveg.com