DO try this at home!

Sofi shares with us how to make some delicious sounding and looking Ethiopian specialties!

The lentil dish Mesir Wot is a sauce that is especially popular during the Lent period. It's a healthy dish that can be eaten hot or cold and is easy to cook. 

Ingredients:

2 cups of lentils

1 medium onion (finely chopped)

1 teaspoon salt

4-5 garlic cloves (peeled and finely chopped or mashed)

1/2 cup of cooking oil (your preferred oil - I use corn oil)

2-3 tablespoons of bebere (red chili powder - this is very spicy and hot with a strong flavour so don't put too much of this)

1 can chopped tomatoes (or fresh tomatoes boiled for about 2-3 minutes so it will be easy to peel the skin, and chopped)

Directions:

1) Wash lentils a few times and leave them in a bowl of water

2) Put oil and onion in a pot and stir frequently until brown

3) Add the tomato and stir frequently for about 2-3 minutes

4) Add berbere and let simmer for about 15-20 minutes. Now you need to stir it more often and add some water as you stir it, otherwise at this stage it is easy for it to burn and stick to the pan

5) Drain lentils and add to the sauce. Add 1 1/2 cups of water and put a lid on and put on medium heat. Stir occasionally until tender for about 20 minutes

Gommen Wot - Dish with Spinach and Leaf Greens 

Preparation:

The spinach can be fresh or frozen (1 bag of fresh or 1/2 bag of frozen - if you use frozen put it in a sieve so when it melts the water can drain)

1 bag of leaf greens (washed and finely chopped)

1 cup of chopped onion

5 garlic cloves (finely chopped)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup of cooking oil (your choice of cooking oil)

Directions:

1) In a pot add oil and onion and stir frequently for 2-3 minutes

2) Add the garlic and stir for 1-2 minutes. Then add a pinch of salt

3) Add the chopped green leaves and stir to mix in with the onion and garlic. Cover it for 2 minutes to let the steam shrink the greens. Stir again and leave to simmer on a medium heat for 5-10 minutes