Injera

After posting on a couple of my favorite Ethiopian dishes, a spicy chicken stew called Doro Wat, and a spiced and fragrant bread called Yewollo Ambasha, I realized I needed to delve into this cuisine more specifically, as most of my African cookbooks are just that – the many varied cuisines of the African continent – not only Ethiopian.

That led me to purchase Ethiopia, published in 2019, written by native Ethiopian Yohanis Gebreyesus.

From the author’s introduction: “Food is an object of survival, an entity believed to feed the body and soul across different cultures around the world. In Ethiopia on the other hand, it holds another crucial dimension, one that conveys a positive human energy through a powerful saying “enebla.” Enebla, in Amharic, translates to “let us eat” and our staple food injera is made in a way that invites more than one hand to the meal. It is a moment of sharing, of caring, and of showing respect for one another.”

Enamored as a young boy by his mother’s cooking, Mr. Gebreyesus eventually made his way to France, studying at the Paul Bocuse Institute and various restaurants, plus traveling the world making new culinary discoveries along the way. Then, he claims, “it was finally time to go back to my original, in order to unfold the rich culture I am proud to be part of.”

The first chapter in this cookbook is “Injera and Flatbreads,” which probably shows how important this bread is to the Ethiopian people and their cuisine. This is a photo of injera from this chapter. It’s so beautiful.

Injera, according to this author, “requires three moons to acquire the perfect elasticity and taste.” That didn’t help reassure me much! This is a picture of the brown variety of teff, the smallest grains in existence.

In this cookbook there are 2 recipes for injera, the traditional, 7-day procedure to make the spongy, fermented batter, and a one-day injera. The author states, specifically, that “mixing and baking the injera batter is a very difficult task that takes cooks many years to master.” Great. I’d wanted to challenge myself with the 7-day, but I didn’t have enough flour, so I’m making one-day injera.

One-Day Injera
Serves 2

2 cups teff flour
2 cups bottled water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
Vegetable oil for oiling pan

In a large non-reactive bowl, add the flour and begin working in the water. Stir well. Cover with a dish towel and let sit undisturbed on the kitchen counter for 24 hours. After this period, the batter should be slightly foamy. Whisk in the salt and baking powder. (The batter will deflate as you stir.

Use a non-stick crepe pan or a large, traditional mitad. My flat skillet has no sides, so I thought it might be perfect. Moisten a paper towel with oil and wipe the surface, then place the pan over medium-high heat.

When the pan is hot, use a spouted measuring cup to scoop 1/2 – 1 cup of the batter, depending on the size of the pan. Work quickly and carefully in order to pour the batter evenly around the pan. Starting at the outside edge of the skillet, going clockwise if you are right-handed, pour the batter in a thin stream and in one continuous motion in a spiral formation, without overlapping, until you end at the very center.

Cook undisturbed until bubbles have begun to form on the surface of the injera and the batter begins to set. When about 75% of the surface batter has changed color, 45 seconds – 1 1/2 minutes, cover the pan with a large lid. A glass lid is helpful here as it allows you to check the oneness of the injera without uncovering.

Cook until the edges of the injera begin to curl, the top is quite dry, and the injera has released from the bottom of the pan, from 30 seconds – 1 1/2 minutes. Do not flip. When cooked, use a long thin spatula and a thin plate to transfer the injera to a flat basket or a large plate lined with parchment paper without breaking. Remove any strays dough from the cooking surface, and then apply more oil as necessary and reheat the skillet. The heat can be now lowered to medium-low.

Allow the first injera to cool for at least 5 minutes before placing another on top, and allow all to rest for at least 30 minutes before serving.

I’ve been to Ethiopian restaurants that lay multiple injera flat on a serving tray, but I’ve also seen them folded up, like when we ate at a Brooklyn restaurant called Ghenet.

More on injera: “Some people refer to our skills of manipulating injera as “dancing with fingers.” Eating with injera demands washing properly first – via a traditional water pot and bucket, brought to guests at the dining table. Having said grace, guests are invited to break pieces of injera using only the right hand. They apply the flatbread over the stews while avoiding covering their nails with the liquids, then dipping and rolling it to form a “goursha” – an injera bite that combines all the stews from the platter.”

By Published On: November 8th, 202134 Comments on Injera

About the Author: Chef Mimi

As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!

34 Comments

  1. Angela November 8, 2021 at 6:49 AM - Reply

    How interesting! I’ve never had Ethiopian food but would love to try it. I first learned about this flatbread in Abraham Verghese’s smashing novel, “Cutting for Stone.” So interesting.

    • chef mimi November 8, 2021 at 9:25 AM - Reply

      Oh goodness, I haven’t heard about that novel!

      • Angela November 8, 2021 at 12:37 PM

        Masterful and fascinating!

  2. Ron November 8, 2021 at 7:17 AM - Reply

    Nice job Mimi. I once tried making the fermented version and it was not a major success. The one day version sounds like the wise route to follow.

    • chef mimi November 8, 2021 at 9:25 AM - Reply

      I’m still going to try the week-long recipe… if you make this thin the batter.

  3. popsiclesociety November 8, 2021 at 7:38 AM - Reply

    Our world is full of interesting cuisines! Great job! It looks very nice and I’m sure it is delicious too!

    • chef mimi November 8, 2021 at 9:24 AM - Reply

      It certainly is. Haven’t met one I didn’t love. I wouldn’t want fried tarantulas, though

  4. Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen November 8, 2021 at 7:46 AM - Reply

    Wonderful job Mimi! This looks amazing!

    • chef mimi November 8, 2021 at 9:24 AM - Reply

      Thank you! Too thick but I’ll try again…

  5. Jovina Coughlin November 8, 2021 at 8:50 AM - Reply

    Beautiful.

    • chef mimi November 8, 2021 at 9:24 AM - Reply

      thanks!

  6. Thao @ In Good Flavor November 8, 2021 at 1:35 PM - Reply

    When my daughter was a child, she had a few meals at our Nigerian neighbor’s house. She loved this bread. Eating it is one of her fondest good memories. I have to show her this recipe!

  7. Thao @ In Good Flavor November 8, 2021 at 1:37 PM - Reply

    Ooops! I meant Ethiopian neighbors. My apologies!

    • chef mimi November 8, 2021 at 5:41 PM - Reply

      I assumed you meant Ethiopian! What a treat for her if you surprise her with it!

  8. Anonymous November 8, 2021 at 2:13 PM - Reply

    I’m eager to try this recipe, Mimi. We have Ethiopian food from time to time and I love the unique taste and texture of the injera but never seriously considered making it myself. It would be a nice accompaniment to many of my vegetarian meals, I think. 😊

    • chef mimi November 8, 2021 at 5:40 PM - Reply

      Well this recipe is easy, but I’d thin the batter. I did halfway through but not enough. I wanted to respect the recipe. It would be really fun to have with any kind of stews and soups!

  9. StefanGourmet November 9, 2021 at 2:08 AM - Reply

    I’ve never tried Ethiopian food. Looks like your injera came out perfectly!

    • chef mimi November 9, 2021 at 3:21 PM - Reply

      Ohhhhh, you must. Very heavily flavored and spiced. But such wonderful flavors!

  10. David @ Spiced November 9, 2021 at 6:55 AM - Reply

    I’m familiar with injera as Laura enjoyed going to an Ethiopian restaurant back in our Atlanta days – I have no idea how to be graceful when it comes to eating with injera though! Haha. And “three moons to acquire perfection”? Woah. Then again, that sounds like a challenge, and I do love a good challenge in the kitchen! Well done on this 1-day version, Mimi!

    • chef mimi November 9, 2021 at 3:21 PM - Reply

      It didn’t end up being very challenging, but I was a bit disappointed. I can’t wait to try the 7-day version – at least the flavor will be more authentic.

  11. David Scott Allen November 9, 2021 at 8:08 AM - Reply

    Your injera looks perfect! The one-day version is very much like mine, though mine has no baking powder. I can’t wait to try it and find out the difference that makes. When I have made Injera for people who like Ethiopian food, they are surprised at how dark it is. Even using lighter teff, it’s still quite dark. I think the Injera we get in Ethiopian restaurants in the United States is tweeked for the American palate. What do you think?

    • chef mimi November 9, 2021 at 3:19 PM - Reply

      I hate to think that, but it certainly could be… If you try this recipe, make sure to thin it. Maybe authentic ivory teff is just much lighter? Although mine came from Snuk Foods.

  12. gloria Roa Baker November 9, 2021 at 5:09 PM - Reply

    This recipe looks so beautiful Mimi!!

    • chef mimi November 10, 2021 at 8:01 AM - Reply

      Thank you so much Gloria!

  13. Eva Taylor November 10, 2021 at 5:32 AM - Reply

    I’ve never had Ethiopian food before but now I’m intrigued.

    • chef mimi November 10, 2021 at 8:01 AM - Reply

      You should be! It’s just so different. If you ever discover an Ethiopian restaurant, do go.

  14. Ann Coleman November 10, 2021 at 8:34 PM - Reply

    I am always in awe of your ability to create tasty dishes from around the world…you are truly fearless in the kitchen!

    • chef mimi November 11, 2021 at 6:42 AM - Reply

      Thank you, but cooking really is just cooking, no matter what the ingredients. Some heat, some stirring – and voila! Thank goodness I was exposed to so many varied cuisines growing up, or maybe I would have been fearful.

  15. Valentina November 14, 2021 at 3:55 PM - Reply

    Mimi, I’m so excited about this. I’m going to try it, and I already jumped on to goolge to see why to buy Teff flour, which I now know is gluten-free (so my son can have it). I’ll report back after I try it. Can’t wait! :-) ~Valentina

    • Valentina December 1, 2021 at 9:54 AM - Reply

      Hello again! So in reading my previous note . . . I meant “where” to buy, not “why!”

      I did purchase the Teff flour and I made this last night. I had let it soak for 24 hrs, not 7 days, because I didn’t have the patience. ;-) I was shocked at how thin the batter was, and how it almost immediately solidified on the hot pan — almost too quickly for me to spiral it around. So mine were a bit smaller in diameter. I served them with a stew and it was great — and so interesting. Thank you for the introduction to something new. :-) ~Valentina

      • chef mimi December 1, 2021 at 11:19 AM

        Oh, ha! I don’t know where my response to your comment went… Very interesting, cause I actually had to add water to mine. Still a very interesting texture. And I never thought about the gluten-free aspect! I think no matter what, this takes practice.

  16. Sherry M November 15, 2021 at 1:37 AM - Reply

    how interesting. imagine it taking ‘3 moons’. that’s dedication :-)

    • chef mimi November 15, 2021 at 7:41 AM - Reply

      No kidding!!!

  17. ethiopianrestaurantboston December 6, 2022 at 12:23 AM - Reply

    Welcome to Sheger Cafe and Ethiopian Restaurant
    Welcome to Sheger Cafe! Our Cafe is a family-owned and operated restaurant serving traditional Ethiopian food. Our food is not influenced by any other culinary tradition or culture. We serve only the traditional dishes of Ethiopia and its many regions.
    ethiopianrestaurantboston.com

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