During my trip to Ethiopia, I ate a lot of firfir. The most unique version I tried, at the Seven Olives Hotel in Lalibela, was an Arabic firfir that utilised dates against a backdrop of rich tomato and berbere gravy soaked injera.
The firfir recipe below, although not exactly the same (sometimes location is half of the flavour), is in memory of that dish. The rich dates are a genius addition because a) dates are fruit and hence a superfood, whatever that is, and b) sugar is a great fire quencher.
Injera can be made from barley, millet, wheat, sorghum, rice, and wheat, and teff flours. What you are likely to find in restaurants in London is injera made from teff and wheat, or a combination of the two (most common). The gluten free injera does not last as well and will start to fall apart after just a day (and does not freeze as well), which makes it ideal for firfir.
If you aren't sure where to find injera, ask your local Ethiopian or Eritrean restaurant and they will probably sell it to you.
Vegan Ethiopian Firfir with Dates
Ingredients
- 1 injera torn into pieces
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 40 grams diced purple onions â…“ cup
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- â…“ cup water
- 2 tablespoons dry white wine
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon berbere paste
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 10-15 very soft dates seeded and halved or cut
- Green jalapeño chilli sliced thinly
Instructions
- Heat a medium sized saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and salt to sweat for about five minutes, until they become translucent. Add the oil and garlic, cooking for another 2-3 minutes.
- In a small bowl whisk together the water, wine, berbere, tomato paste, and lemon juice. Tip the liquid into the pan and stir to combine with the onions and garlic. Add the dates and cook for another minute.
- Carefully stir the injera pieces through the sauce, trying not to break them up as you stir.
- Tip onto a plate and top with the jalapeño slivers.
ChrisD says
Love this recipe Kip-thanks so much!
Ethiopian AF says
Where did you get the idea to add dates?
Kip says
from an Ethiopian woman who made and served this dish to me in Lalibela.
habeshaasf says
Oh wow, this looks like it would be great with salad, which I love! Dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates dates I love those too and I absolutely read your post thoroughly to see you ate this dish in Ethiopia. How cool! I'm a really nice person who never leaves nasty comments. All my love xoxoxo
P.S. if I did want to leave a nasty comment I would definitely try to be constructive in my method.
I reserve the right to improve malicious and trollish comments.