Ethiopian Injera Bread Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

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EthiopianHomemade Injera Bread Recipe:Make classic Ethiopian sourdough crepes at home, to serve with all your favoriteEthiopian food dishes.

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Why We Love This Injera Bread Recipe

Several major American cities have large Ethiopian populations with amazing restaurants and markets throughout. Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Dallas are among the largest.

When we visit family in Dallas, we alwaysgorgeourselves on Ethiopian recipes because we know we may not enjoy this exciting and complex cuisine again for a long time. That is, unless I decide to make it at home.

The staple that you absolutely need to know how to make in order to have delicious Ethiopian food at home is Injera, aka Ethiopian flatbread. This flatbread is always paired with other dishes to soak up the saucy meats, veggies and beans that it accompanies.

This injera recipe is easy to make and super tasty! It is slightly tangy because of the sourdough. This flavor makes it perfect to have with all of the bold flavors of Ethiopian cuisine!

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Ethiopian Recipes Often Found At Restaurants

A classic Ethiopian platter that you receive in a restaurant, is full of possibilities. There are so many bold and intriguing Ethiopian recipes it’s a little hard to nail it down the best.

I can tell you, that a family-size Ethiopian “Queen’s Platter” usually consists of:

  • 1-2 meat stews, made of chicken, beef, or lamb (Often shredded, chopped, or even serve raw like tartare.)
  • 1-2 lentil/legume dishes, such as Misir Wat
  • 1-2 cooked vegetables, including mixed vegetable stews and collard greens
  • 1 raw vegetable dish, usually simple lettuce or tomato-based salad, often with raw spicy chiles
  • and Ayib, fresh Ethiopian cheese
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EASY Injera Recipe (Ethiopian Bread)

As we don’t have Ethiopian markets in Asheville, NC, my Ethiopian recipes have had to be tweaked quite a bit.

I made quite a few adjustments to theInjeraBread Recipe to make it easier for home-cooks to not only find the ingredients but, also make it quickly.

These sourdough crepes are traditionally made withteff flourandfermented for several daysbefore cooking. With our busy schedule, I don’t start anything 3-5 days before I plan to eat it, so this had to be addressed.

After several test runs, I ended up using a mix ofstandard all-purpose flour and buckwheat flourfor texture and color. Then added a hefty dose of club soda andvinegar to create the fermented sourdough flavor.

The results were fantastic! Our Easy Ethiopian Bread is not only quick and easy to make in any nonstick skillet, but it’s also tender, rollable, and undoubtedly sour… With absolutely no wait time.

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Ingredients for Sourdough Crepes

You can find all these ingredients at any national grocery chain…

  • All-purpose Flourto make the sourdough crepes soft and pliable
  • Buckwheat Flourfor color and texture
  • Baking Sodafor light air bubbles
  • Saltfor flavor
  • Club Sodaalso to create the bubbly texture
  • Vinegarto create the fermented sour taste
  • Oilfor cooking
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How to Make Injera

Injera at Ethiopian restaurants is made as large pizza-sized circular crepes. At home, you can make it in any good nonstick skillet you have available.

  1. Make the batter: Mix both types of flour, salt, and baking soda together. Whisk in the club soda until smooth. Then add the vinegar and whisk.
  2. Prep the Skillet: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Pour oil on a paper towel and wipe the skillet with the oiled paper towel to create a thin coating.
  3. Scoop and Swirl:Using a scoop, pour batter into the skillet creating a 6-inch circle. Carefully swirl the pan around to thin out the batter until it measures 8- to 9-inches across.
  4. Cook and Flip: Cook for 1 minute, then using a large spatula, flip the Injera over and cook another minute. Remove from the skillet and stack on a plate. Repeat with the remaining batter.
  5. Roll and Serve: Once finished cooking the Injera. Cut the circles in half with a pizza cutter, roll into tubes, and stack. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Get the Full (Printable) Ethiopian Injera Bread Recipe Below!

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Make a Divine Feast Fit for Royalty!

Ethiopian “Queen” Platters are a great idea for your adventurous dinner guest’s menu. There’s nothing like sitting around a large colorful platter of exotic dishes, scooping them up with your hands. Oh, the memories you will make!

Serve fresh-made Injera Bread with…

  • Chicken Doro Wat(Doro Wot) (a chicken stew made in the slow cooker)
  • KitfoEthiopian Beef Tartare or Tere Siga (minced raw meat)
  • Mesir WatRed Lentil Stew
  • AyibCheese
  • Yellow Peaslike Daal
  • Collardsor other wilted greens (Gomen)
  • Tomato Saladif you like.
  • Smeared with Niter Kibbeh (a spiced clarified butter)
  • Fenugreek Stewby Eat Smarter

Most of these dishes can be made ahead of time if needed.

(PS, the links to yellow peas and collards aren’t technically Ethiopian recipes, but they are similar and VERY delicious!)

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does this recipe last?

If you store Injera in the fridge, it will stay fresh for up to a week. If you store it at room temperature, it will stay fresh for only a couple of days.

Can I freeze this bread?

Yes, this bread can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. It’s easiest to pull apart if you separate each piece with wax paper before thoroughly wrapping it in plastic, or placing in large freezer bags. Keeping it in the freezer too long will result in a textural change. Thaw in the microwave or a warm oven, covered in a damp paper towel to soften.

What about the Teff flour?

Teff flour is the flour most commonly used in Ethiopia. It is light and naturally gluten-free, but not always easy to find. If you do find it, you can use it in this recipe in place of the all-purpose flour and buckwheat flour, 4 cups total.

What Other Side Dishes Can I Make?

There are some non-traditional ethiopian dishes you can pair with this bread which can include vegetables (like green beans, cabbage, potatoes, or carrots). You can focus this platter on a vegan-style dish, or vegetarian dish with more grains, porridge, and chickpeas rather than meats. You could even serve it alongside your favorite fruits, like mango or papaya.

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Other Great Recipes

  • Best Simple Roti (Chapati Bread) Recipe
  • Easy Navajo Fry Bread Recipe
  • Croatian Lepinja Bread Recipe
  • Apple Bread (Challah Bread Recipe)
  • Homemade Naan Bread Recipe

Check the printable recipe card below for the nutrition information including calories, carbohydrates, protein, and calcium percentages.

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Print Recipe

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Ethiopian Injera Bread Recipe

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 6 minutes minutes

Total Time: 36 minutes minutes

Make classic Ethiopian sourdough crepes at home, the EASY WAY, to serve with all your favorite Ethiopian dishes.

Servings: 8

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, mix both flours, salt, and baking soda together. Whisk in the club soda until smooth. Then add the vinegar and whisk.

  • Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Pour oil on a paper towel and wipe the skillet with the oiled paper towel. This creates a thin fatty layer to make it easier to flip the crepes.

  • Using a scoop, pour batter into the skillet creating a 6-inch circle. Quickly and carefully swirl the pan around to thin out the batter until it measures 8- to 9-inches across.

  • Cook for 1 minute, then using a large spatula, flip the Injera over and cook another minute. Remove from the skillet and stack on a plate.Repeat with remaining batter. The Injera will seem slightly crisp in the pan, but will soften immediately when placed on the plate. The stacking also helps steam and soften the Injera sourdough crepes.

  • Once finished cooking the Injera. Cut the circles in half with a pizza cutter, roll into tubes and stack. Keep warm until ready to serve.Serve the Injera with Doro Wat or Mesir Wat, tearing pieces of Injera and using it to pick up the Doro Wat.

Notes

Injera can be made ahead and frozen. Thaw in the microwave or a warm oven, covered in a damp paper towel.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 227kcal, Carbohydrates: 46g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 1140mg, Potassium: 140mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 1g, Calcium: 21mg, Iron: 3mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Ethiopian

Author: Sommer Collier

Making this recipe?Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!

This site contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission.

Ethiopian Injera Bread Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

FAQs

How to make injera in Ethiopia step by step? ›

  1. Put the teff flour in the bottom of a mixing bowl, and sift in the all-purpose flour.
  2. Slowly add the water, stirring to avoid lumps.
  3. Put the batter aside for a day or more (up to three days) to allow it to ferment. ...
  4. Stir in the salt.
  5. Heat a nonstick pan or lightly oiled cast-iron skillet until a water.

What is the signature bread of Ethiopia injera __________? ›

"Injera" is an Amharic term for Ethiopian bread similar to pan cake, made usually from teff. Injera is thin, prepared from teff flour, water and starter (a fluid collected from previously fermented mix) after successive fermentations [1].

What is the importance of injera bread in Ethiopia? ›

Injera is the most important component of food in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is often both the serving platter and utensil for a meal. Hearty stews such as wat are placed on top of the bread and then the meal is eaten by tearing pieces of injera off and scooping up the stews.

Do Ethiopians eat injera with every meal? ›

Most Ethiopian dishes are served alongside injera, a flat, soft, and spongy bread made from teff, wheat, barley or millet.

What is the key ingredient in injera? ›

The primary ingredient in the traditional Ethiopian dish injera is teff flour. Injera is a type of flatbread that is a staple in Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine. Teff is a tiny, gluten-free grain that is native to the Horn of Africa.

How to make injera in English? ›

Traditional Injera Batter (you need 2-3 days for this)

Place the teff and rice flours in a large bowl. Add 70g (½ cup) of the starter. Gradually add 250ml (1 cup) of the water, mixing with a wooden spoon. Add more water, a little at a time, until you have a very thick batter that resists the spoon.

Is Ethiopian food spicy? ›

A cuisine encompassing the flavors of the old East African spice trade, Ethiopian food is deliciously unique, fragrant, and mostly spicy. Its depth of flavors has made it very popular internationally.

Is injera good for diabetics? ›

Teff Injera, which is predominantly used in Ethiopia, had a low glycemic index and load. Therefore, Teff Injera is a safe food for diabetic patients, and it can be grown in many drier areas of the world (e.g., Northern United States, Poland, and Western Russia).

Does injera expand in your stomach? ›

For example, when I first arrived, the only flour we could find to make injera, our fermented bread which is a staple of each meal, was self-rising flour. And that just doesn't work because the injera expands in your stomach after you've eaten it.

Is injera good or bad for you? ›

3. It's Healthy. Did you know that the star ingredient, teff, in injera, is not only super tasty but also jam-packed with nutrients? The super grain is filled with complete proteins, fibre, magnesium, iron and calcium (in fact, no other grain on earth has more fibre per serving).

What is injera in English? ›

Injera is a type of unleavened flatbread.

Can I eat injera everyday? ›

Ethiopians will eat injera for breakfast, lunch and dinner but one serving a day should suffice for a visitor.

How unhealthy is Ethiopian food? ›

Ethiopian cuisine is not only healthy and nutritious, but also a great way to expose children to new flavors and teach them about another part of the world at the same time. What kids will love most about Ethiopian food is that you use your hands — exclusively! Though a tad messy at times, it's the perfect finger food.

Is Ethiopian injera good for you? ›

Minerals in Teff

Teff — the tiny, poppy-seed-sized grain used to make injera — is rich in a variety of nutrients, in spite of harsh growing conditions, like flooding, droughts and high altitudes, and is a source of many essential vitamins and minerals.

How is Ethiopian Areke made? ›

“Areke” is produced from a mixture of ingredients such as milled “Gesho” (Rhamnus prinoides), finely ground and baked cereals, malt, and water called mash (locally named as “Difdif”), followed by a distillation process [4].

How is teff prepared? ›

Add teff and water to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until water is absorbed and teff is soft. Teff flour can be used for many baked goods such as cookies, muffins, waffles, pancakes, crepes, pie crusts, quick breads, etc.

Does injera need a starter? ›

The injera fermentation process is very similar to that of sourdough and requires a starter (ersho) to be created approximately three days before mixing the batter. This time frame is an average and may differ depending on location and ambient temperatures.

References

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