Illustrative image—not a photograph of this dish. Be the first to upload a real one.
Shiro (Ethiopian Spiced Chickpea or Lentil Stew)
Cookbook | Recipes | Ingredients | Equipment | Techniques | Cookbook Disambiguation Pages | Recipes
Source: Wikibooks contributors
Adapted: Imported and reformatted by HowManyCookies from the cited Wikibooks revision.
Source revision: Revision 4518683
License: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikibooks contributors
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 cup shiro powder (chickpea or lentil flour)
- 4 cups vegetable broth or water
- 1 tablespoon berbere spice blend
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped, for garnish
Directions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onion to the pot and sauté until translucent and slightly browned.
- Add the minced garlic to the pot and sauté for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Sprinkle the berbere spice blend, ground cumin, ground turmeric, salt, and black pepper over the onions and garlic. Stir well to coat the ingredients with the spices.
- Add the shiro powder to the pot and stir it into the onion and spice mixture.
- Gradually pour in the vegetable broth or water while continuously stirring to prevent any lumps from forming.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally. The stew will thicken and develop a rich flavor.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
- Remove the pot from the heat and let the shiro rest for a few minutes before serving.
- Garnish the shiro with fresh chopped parsley or cilantro. Serve hot with injera or bread for dipping.
Equipment
Large pot, Wooden spoon or spatula, Cutting board, Knife
Notes
Shiro powder is available in Ethiopian or specialty grocery stores. It comes in both chickpea and lentil varieties. Choose the one you prefer or try a combination of both.
If the shiro stew becomes too thick upon standing, you can adjust the consistency by adding a little more vegetable broth or water and stirring until desired thickness is achieved.
For a heartier version, you can add cooked and chopped vegetables like carrots, potatoes, or spinach to the stew.
Some variations of shiro include the addition of minced meat or ground beef for extra richness and flavor.
Customize the spiciness of the shiro by adjusting the amount of berbere spice blend according to your taste preferences.