36 Ethiopian Lunch & Dinner Dishes You Must Try

Ethiopian cuisine is a treasure trove of bold flavors, aromatic spices, and unique dining experiences. From savory stews to grilled meats and a variety of vegetarian delights, Ethiopian lunch and dinner dishes offer a culinary adventure that is sure to delight food enthusiasts.

Whether you’re a seasoned fan of Ethiopian cuisine or new to its delights, exploring the lunch and dinner options is a must to truly immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Ethiopian flavors. In this blog post, we will introduce you to some of the must-try Ethiopian lunch and dinner dishes that will take your taste buds on a tantalizing journey.

  • tibs 2

    Tibs (Ethiopian Stir Fried Beef) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Advanced

    Learn how to make an authentic Ethiopian dish by using our Tibs Recipe. Here you will find all the ingredients you will need to make Tibs, a popular traditional Ethiopian dish with all the necessary directions.

  • key wot 2

    Key Wot (Ethiopian Spicy Beef Stew) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Learn how to make Key Wot by using this simple recipe from Ethiopian Food Guide. Here you will learn about all the ingredients you will need to make this traditional Ethiopian dish with all the necessary directions.

  • kikil 1 1

    Kikil Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Kikil is a mild stew made with lamb and potatoes. In some ways, it is similar to Alicha Wot but Kikil is more of a thinner watery stew. Learn how to make Kikil by using this simple beginner-friendly recipe.

  • minchet abish 2

    Minchet Abish Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Minchet Abish is a beef stew made from ground beef meat. And in this recipe, you will learn how to make this unique Ethiopian dish. Here you will find all the ingredients you will need along with step-by-step directions to make the dish.

  • firfir 2

    Firfir Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Firfir, another popular Ethiopian dish that can be eaten for lunch, dinner, and even breakfast. Learn how to make this dish by using our recipe, where you will find all of the necessary ingredients and step-by-step directions.

  • fossolia 1 1

    Fasolia (Ethiopian Green Beans Salad) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    If you are looking for a vegetarian Ethiopian dish, it doesn’t get better than Fasolia; a delicious dish made from green beans. While there are several ways to make this dish, this is a great recipe to follow if you are a beginner.

  • gomen besiga 2

    Gomen Besiga (Ethiopian Collard Green Salad with Meat) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    Gomen Besiga is a great dish for meat lovers that find it difficult to add greens to their diet. Learn how to make Gomen Besiga by using this simple recipe, where you will find all the ingredients you will need to make this traditional Ethiopian dish with all the necessary directions.

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    Gored Gored Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    Learn how to make Gored Gored by using this simple recipe from Ethiopian Food Guide. Here you will learn about all the ingredients you will need to make this traditional Ethiopian dish with all the necessary directions.

  • kategna 1 1

    Kategna Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    If you have some extra injera on hand, use it to make this tasty treat. Learn how to make Kategna by using this simple recipe which is very beginner-friendly.

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    Defo Dabo Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Defo Dabo is one of the several types of bread made in Ethiopia. Typically, making Defo Dabo requires a special ingredient – the leaves of the Enset (false banana) plant or Koba Kitel in Amharic. However, if you can’t find false banana leaves near you, you can just use banana leaves instead.

  • duba wot 1 1

    Duba Wot (Ethiopian Pumpkin Stew) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Duba is an Amharic word used for both squash and pumpkin. You can use any variety of pumpkin or squash you like are have close at hand to make your Duba Wot.

  • alicha wot 1 1

    YeBeg Alicha Wot (Ethiopian Mild Lamb Stew) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Here are some easy-to-follow directions for a tasty meat-based Ethiopian meal – Alicha Wot, also known as Yebeg Alicha. It is a great choice for people that find berbere upsetting to their stomachs.

  • azifa 1 1

    Azifa (Ethiopia Lentil Salad) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    Azifa is a delicious cold lentil dish that goes along very well with any Ethiopian meal. Learn how to make this dish by using this simple recipe. Here you find all the ingredients you need to make this traditional Ethiopian dish.

  • alicha siga wot ethiopian yellow beef stew

    Alicha Siga Wot (Ethiopian Yellow Beef Stew) Recipe

    Cooks in 60 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Alicha Siga Wot, or Ethiopian Yellow Beef Stew, is one of the most popular dishes with a unique blend of spices, flavors, and cooking techniques that have been passed down over generations. Not only is this dish incredibly tasty, but it’s also simple to make! If you’ve never tried Alicha Siga Wot before, you owe it to yourself to give this recipe a try!

  • alicha kik wot yellow lentil stew

    YeAter Alicha Kik Wot (Ethiopian Mild Yellow Split Pea Stew) Recipe

    Cooks in 60 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    YeAter Alicha Kik Wot is a delicious and wholesome Ethiopian dish that is traditionally made with yellow split peas, onions, garlic, ginger root, and turmeric. This recipe for YeAter Alicha Kik Wot is full of flavor and simple to make with readily available ingredients. Moreover, even though it is a vegetarian dish, YeAter Alicha Kik Wot provides plenty of protein and nutrition. So, follow this recipe, make yourself a delicious YeAter Alicha Kik Wot , and enjoy!

  • alicha shiro wot ethiopian mild pea stew recipe

    Alicha Shiro Wot (Ethiopian Mild Chickpea Stew) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Alicha Shiro Wot is a mild variation of the Shiro Wot (Ethiopian Chickpea Stew) dish; the main differenc being the turmeric spice which gives this dish a milder taste and light-yeloowish look. Here is a simple recipe that you can follow to easily make Alicha Shiro Wot at home.

  • tikil gomen 1 1 1

    Tikil Gomen (Ethiopian Cabbage Salad) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Tikil Gomen is one of the most popular, vegetarian dishes in Ethiopia. It’s extremely easy to make and adjust depending on the individual portions that you prefer. Tikil Gomen is also a good side dish to go with other Ethiopian wot dishes, such as Misir Wot and Shiro Wot.

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    Kitfo Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    Kitfo is a beloved beef dish in Ethiopia. Learn how to make Kitfo by using this simple recipe. Here you will learn about all the ingredients you will need to make every simple version of this traditional Ethiopian dish with all the necessary directions.

  • quanta firfir 1 1 1 1

    Quanta Firfir Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Quanta Firfir is a variation of the popular Firfir family that can be eaten for lunch, dinner, or even breakfast. But what makes Quanta Firfir truly unique is the Quanta, which is dried meat similar to beef jerky.

  • alicha doro wot ethiopian yellow chicken stew

    Alicha Doro Wot (Ethiopian Yellow Chicken Stew) Recipe

    Cooks in 90 minutesDifficulty: Advanced

    Alicha Doro Wot is the gentler variation of the most popular Ethiopian dish, the Doro Wot, where the spicy berbere spice is swapped out for a mellow turmeric sauce that is infused with ginger and garlic. This authentically Ethiopian chicken stew is sure to tantalize your taste buds!

  • doro wot 1 1 1 1

    Doro Wot (Ethiopian Chicken Stew) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Advanced

    Doro Wot, which is the flagship dish of Ethiopia, is a stew of chicken and hard-boiled eggs. The key to an authentic and delicious Doro Wot is a quality Berbere spice blend, and a slow cooking time required for the dish to properly develop.

  • gomen 1 1 1

    Gomen (Ethiopian Collard Green Salad) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    Gomen is one of the most popular vegetable dishes in the Ethiopian cousin. The Ethiopian table doesn’t get greener than this staple dish, which you can make by using collard greens. Learn how to make an authentic Ethiopian dish by using our Gomen Recipe.

  • kik wot 1 1 1

    Kik Wot Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    Learn how to make Kik Wot by using this simple recipe from Ethiopian Food Guide. Here you will learn about all the ingredients you will need to make this traditional Ethiopian dish with all the necessary directions.

  • buticha 1 2

    Buticha (Ethiopian Chickpea Flour Salad) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Advanced

    Learn how to make Buticha by using this simple recipe from the Ethiopian Food. Here you will learn about all the ingredients you will need to make this traditional Ethiopian dish with all the necessary directions.

  • timatim salad 1 1

    Timatim Salad (Tomato Salad) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    There are two versions of this Timatim (tomato) Salad recipe. One with pieces of Injera, and the other, without. Berbere and jalapeño peppers are the key ingredients, so the salad will have a little bit of a kick to it.

  • zilzil tibs 1 1

    Zilzil Tibs Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Learn how to make an authentic Ethiopian dish by using our Zilzil Tibs Recipe. Here you will find all the ingredients you will need to make this traditional Ethiopian dish with all the necessary directions.

  • misir kik wot (ethiopian red lentil stew)

    Misir Kik Wot (Ethiopian Red Lentil Stew) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Misir Kik Wot, which is Ethiopian red lentil stew, is one of the most popular vegan/vegetarian dishes in Ethiopian cuisine – even though some versions of the dish add meat. It is a tasty lentil dish enriched with the flavor of Berbere. Learn how to make Misir Kik Wot by using this simple recipe, where you’ll find all of the ingredients you need to make this traditional Ethiopian dish along with all the necessary directions.

  • yebeg wot ethiopian lamb stew

    YeBeg Key Wot (Ethiopian Spicy Lamb Stew) Recipe

    Cooks in 65 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    YeBeg Wot is a popular Ethiopian lamb stew that is usually prepared during holidays similar to Doro Wat (Ethiopian chicken stew). It is also not too difficult to make at home with just a few ingredients.

  • ayib ethiopian cottage cheese

    Ayib (Ethiopian Cottage Cheese) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Advanced

    Ayib, or Ethiopian cottage cheese, is a staple of traditional Ethiopian cuisine. It is made from fresh cow’s milk and has been consumed for centuries. Ayib is relatively easy to prepare at home using simple ingredients. This recipe will explain how this tasty dish is made.

  • kocho recipe

    Kocho Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Kocho is a traditional flatbread from the Gurage region of Ethiopia. It is made from chopped and grated pulp of the ensete plant. The pith from the pseudo-stem of the ensete plant is harvested, pulped, combined with yeast, and then fermented for three months to two years.
    It serves as a mainstay in Ethiopian cooking, either in place of or in addition to Injera. It is estimated that around 15% of Ethiopians rely entirely or in part on Kocho for a sizable portion of their meals.
    Kocho is typically consumed alongside several well-known Ethiopian foods including Kitfo, Gomen, and

  • asa kitfo fish steak tartar recipe

    Asa Kitfo (Fish Steak Tartar) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    One of the most popular fish dishes in Ethiopia is Asa Kitfo. It is a delicious appetizer dish made from fresh fish mixed with spices that give it a uniquely Ethiopian taste. Here is a simple recipe that you can follow to make Asa Kitfo at home.

  • shiro 1 1 1

    Shiro (Ethiopian Chickpea Stew) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    One of Ethiopia’s most beloved dishes, Shiro served with injera is an essential part of Ethiopian cuisine. Even though there are some versions of Shiro that include meat, this recipe does not and is thus a vegan dish. Enjoy!

  • lentil vegetable soup recipe

    Ethiopian Lentil Vegetable Soup Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Lentil Vegetable Soup is a great comfort food you can enjoy at any time. It is especially popular during the flu seasons in Ethiopia. And, it is also vegan/ vegetarian friendly. Here is a simple recipe that you can follow to make Lentil Vegetable Soup at home.

  • yeshinbera alicha fitfit recipe

    YeShinbera Alicha Fitfit Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    YeShinbera Alicha Fitfit is very enjoyable and tasty mild side-dish. It is made from shreded Injera thoroughly mixed with different Ethiopian spices including turmeric that gives it it’s mild taste and light-yellow color. YeShinbera Alicha Fitfit is vegan/ vegetarian friendly.

  • fossolia wot ethiopian string beans stew recipe

    Fasolia Wot (Ethiopian String Beans Stew) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Fasolia Wot is great vegan/ vegetarian friendly dish that can be used as a side-dish complementing any other Ethiopian food. Here is a simple recipe that you can follow to make Fasolia Wot at home.

  • yeshinbera asa wot ethiopian chickpea fish stew recipe

    YeShinbera Asa Wot (Ethiopian Chickpea Fish Stew) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    This is a unique Ethiopian dish. YeShinbra Asa Wot, which directly translates to “chickpeas fish” in Amharic, doesn’t actually contain any fish at all. The name only refers to the texture of the dish that resembles fish. It is customarily prepared during special event as well as the fasting seasons.

Ethiopian lunch and dinner dishes are a true feast for the senses, offering an array of flavors, textures, and spices that are sure to leave a lasting impression. From the communal dining experience of injera and stews to the hearty satisfaction of grilled meats and the wholesome goodness of vegetarian dishes, Ethiopian cuisine never fails to captivate and satisfy.

So, whether you’re embarking on an Ethiopian food adventure at a local restaurant or trying your hand at recreating these dishes at home, make sure to explore the must-try Ethiopian lunch and dinner dishes. Let the vibrant flavors transport you to the rich cultural heritage of Ethiopia and indulge in the delightful symphony of tastes that await you.

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Sara Seife
Sara Seife

Sara is a blogger, nutritionist, and recipe engineer who loves to create and share Ethiopian food recipes and guides. She is the Chief Editor of The Ethiopian Food, an online platform that aims to help people all over the world learn about and enjoy Ethiopian cuisine. Sara is passionate about sharing her love of Ethiopian food and culture with others, and she hopes that her recipes and guides will help people to create delicious and authentic Ethiopian meals at home.

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