These vegan Ethiopian recipes will add bold and delicious flavors to your plant-based diet! Ethiopian food is a foodie favorite known for its tasty spice blends and hearty stews.
The good news is that there are plenty of meatless options for you to try.
I have gathered 10 vegan recipes here that are a great way to incorporate more plant-based meals into your routine. You do not even have to be vegan to like them.
Get ready to impress your friends with your newfound culinary skills! Maybe you will even convert some meat lovers.
1. Ethiopian Cabbage & Potatoes (Tikil Gomen)
Tikil Gomen is a staple Ethiopian dish featuring a simple yet satisfying blend of cabbage, potatoes, onions, and seasonings. The dish simmers to perfection in a rich broth of water and spices.
It is loaded with turmeric, ginger, and pepper for a subtle yet complex flavor profile. The gentle heat complements the slightly sweet cabbage and hearty potatoes perfectly.
This creates a harmonious balance of texture and flavor.
2. Ethiopian Chickpea Stew (Shiro Wat)
Get ready for a chickpea sensation with this Ethiopian stew! It is a zesty tango of flavors where chickpeas shimmy with tomatoes and spices.
The result is a velvety, tangy, and spicy concoction that will have your taste buds doing the salsa. Serve it over fluffy Injera and let the flavors ignite your mouth.
3. Ethiopian Spicy Pumpkin Stew (Duba Wat)
This Ethiopian stew is like the ultimate pumpkin spice dish but different from what you are used to. This mouth-watering recipe is known for its rich blend of spices like cardamom and berbere.
It is aromatic but also spicy and inherently savory. The stew is served with Injera but pairs well with rice or bread.
You can use butternut squash or sweet potato as delicious substitutes if pumpkin is unavailable.
4. Ethiopian Flat Bread (Injera)
Get ready to embark on a flavorful adventure with legendary Injera! It is the ideal accompaniment for soups and stews.
Injera is like a spongy, tangy, and sour dance partner for your taste buds. Its porous texture soaks up the flavors of stews and curries with gusto.
Tear off a piece and use it like a spoon you can eat. Use a sourdough crepe for a substitute if needed.
5. Ethiopian Lentil Salad (Azefa)
Prepare your taste buds for the zesty sensation known as Azefa! This salad is a flavor extravaganza starring tender lentils and bell peppers.
They are accompanied by mustard seed, black peppercorns, cayenne, lemon juice, olive oil, and cilantro.
The result is a refreshing, zingy, and fiery dish. Serve it as a side dish or a light meal.
6. Ethiopian Red Lentil and Vegetable Stew
This hearty and flavorful stew is a must-try for any food lover. Earthy lentils and aromatic spices create a rich and comforting taste.
Vegetables like bell peppers and onions add sweetness and texture to the dish. Every bite is balanced.
This stew is traditionally served with Injera but can also be enjoyed with rice or quinoa.
7. Ethiopian Vegan Lentil Pie (Sambusa)
Are you a fan of samosas or empanadas? Then you will love Sambusa as it is essentially the African version of your favorite hand pie.
This delicacy is filled with spiced lentils, vegetables, and seasonings wrapped in a pastry shell. This particular recipe is sized more like a traditional pie than a hand pie.
Fragrant spices give this dish a distinct taste that is mild and aromatic. These tasty triangles are delicious hot or cold.
8. Ethiopian Mushroom Stir-Fry (Ingudai Tibs)
The dish comprises tender mushrooms cooked in fragrant spices and aromatics. It features tasty things like garlic, cardamom, coriander, and berbere.
The flavors work together creating a savory, tangy dish bursting with flavor. Ingudai Tibs is often served alongside Injera but also pairs well with rice or couscous.
You can use tofu if you do not have mushrooms or prefer a substitute.
9. Ethiopian Yellow Split Pea Stew (Kik Alicha)
Behold the magic of this pea stew and its satisfying symphony of flavors. I guarantee it will make your taste buds dance!
Every spoonful will whisk you into a world of aromatic, earthy, and zesty spices. Serve it over fluffy rice or with Ethiopian flatbread.
Fear not legume lovers because you can swap the split peas for lentils or chickpeas.
10. Ethiopian Collard Greens (Gomen)
Prepare to be dazzled by the leafy delight known as Gomen! This recipe transforms humble greens into a flavor-packed party in your mouth.
Gomen is not unlike the Southern collard greens you may be familiar with. Both are loaded with delicious seasonings and plenty of garlic.
The only real difference is the lack of bacon.
