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Misir Wat (Spiced Red Lentil Stew)

Name: Misir Wat (Spiced Red Lentil Stew)
Total time: 35 min
Yield: Serves 2
Cuisine: Ethiopia
Ingredients: 250g Red lentils; 2 Onion; 1 tbsp Berbere spice blend; 2 cloves Garlic; 1 knob Ginger; 1 tbsp Tomato paste; 2 tbsp Vegetable oil

Main Dish

⏱ 35 min

👥 Serves 2

Difficulty ⭐⭐

Lentils simmered fiery-red with berbere — a vegetarian dish eaten even during religious fasting periods.

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📖 The Story Behind This Dish

One of the representative vegetarian dishes eaten during Ethiopian Orthodox fasting periods (when animal products are avoided). Even without meat, the richness of onion and berbere makes it deeply satisfying. It's also popular in everyday cooking, often served alongside meat dishes like doro wat.

🌆 Where it's eaten: On fasting days and non-fasting days alike, vivid red misir wat piled atop injera makes for a beautiful sight.

🥕 Ingredients (serves 2)

Red lentils 250g
Onion 2
Berbere spice blend 1 tbsp
Garlic 2 cloves
Ginger 1 knob
Tomato paste 1 tbsp
Vegetable oil 2 tbsp

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Rinse the lentils briefly. Mince the onion.
Heat oil in a pot and sauté the onion slowly until caramelized golden-brown.
Add the garlic, ginger, berbere, and tomato paste; stir-fry to combine.
Add the lentils with enough water to just cover, and simmer about 20 minutes until the lentils are tender.
Season with salt, and finish once thickened.

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