31 Popular Ethiopian Vegan Dishes

Ethiopian cuisine is a true paradise for vegan food lovers. With its rich tradition of plant-based dishes, Ethiopia offers a plethora of flavorful and satisfying options that cater to those who choose to embrace a vegan lifestyle. Bursting with aromatic spices, vibrant vegetables, and legumes, Ethiopian vegan dishes showcase the country’s culinary diversity and creativity.

In this blog post, we will explore some of the popular Ethiopian vegan dishes that have gained recognition for their delectable flavors and nourishing qualities.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • flaxseed dipping sauce recipe

    Telba (Flaxseed) Dipping Sauce Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    One of the recipes for Ethiopian flaxseeds is this dipping sauce. It can be served as a breakfast item or a snack along with Injera or bread. Here is a simple recipe that you can follow to make Flaxseeds Dipping Sauce at home.

  • kochkocha 1 1

    Kochkocha (Da’ta or Yekarya Delleh) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Use this recipe to make a hot and delicious dipping sauce that is quite easy to make for any occasion. It is great to eat with Dirkosh, as well as most meat-based Tibs dishes.

  • ethiopian hummus recipe

    Elibet (Ethiopian Hummus) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Ethiopian Hummus is quite a tasty and appetizing paste that can be served along with any Ethiopian dish. It is mainly made from made from Fava Beans and Sunflower seeds, both of which come with several health benefits. Here is a simple recipe that you can follow to make Ethiopian Hummus at home.

  • dabo kollo 1 1

    Dabo Kolo Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Dabo Kolo is crispily baked with small pieces of Dabo in the form of Kollo, which makes a great snack. This recipe adds some berbere to make it spicier and give its a little bit of a kick.

  • kolo 1 2

    Kolo (Crunchy Ethiopian Roasted Grains) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    Ethiopians accross the country often enjoy kolo as a snack – after meals, along with coffee or some bear. Use this recipe to make yourself some Kolo to munch on as a snack at any time of the day.

  • ethiopian lightly spiced whole wheat bread recipe

    Ethiopian Lightly Spiced Whole Wheat Bread Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Here is a simple recipe that you can follow to make Ethiopian Whole Wheat Bread at home.

  • 1 difo dabo ii 1024x576

    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.

  • berbere image new ii

    Berbere Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    Berbere is an essential part of Ethiopian cuisine. Many popular dishes such as Doro Wot, require this spice. However, if you have found it difficult to find berbere in your local grocery or supermarket, you can make your own right in your own kitchen.

  • afrenje ethiopian chili pepper spice blend recipe

    Afrenje (Ethiopian Chili Pepper Spice Blend) Recipe

    Cooks in 30 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    Afrenje is a great substitute for some of Ethiopia’s well known spicy spice blends such as Berbere and Mitmita, especially for people with more delicate palates. With Afrenje, anyone can savor traditional Ethiopian flavors without having to tolerate too much heat. Afrenje tastes fantastic with recipes that have grilled or raw meat.

  • 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

  • mitmita recipe

    Mitmita Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    Mitmita is a traditional powdered, red-orange spice blend that’s widely used in Ethiopia. It is the second most popular spice blend after Berbere. It is generally made from hot peppers that are stronger than those used in Berbere.
    Traditionally, the main ingredients for making Mitmita are dried chili peppers, Korarima seeds (Ethiopian cardamom), but can also include other spices such as cloves, cumin, green cardamom, black pepper, dried garlic, cinnamon and salt. There is no one single recipe for this mixture of spices, instead there are in fact, many versions.

  • spiced bunna ethiopian coffee recipe

    Spiced Bunna (Ethiopian Coffee) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Coffee is referred to as “Bunna” in Amharic, and if you enjoy drinking it, you are probably already aware that Ethiopia is where coffee first originated. Ethiopian coffee, Bunna is renowned for its flavor, satisfaction, and aroma around the world.

  • tella recipe

    Tella Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Advanced

    In Ethiopia, tella, a traditional alcoholic beverage, is very popular. It can also include spices. It is made from a variety of grains, including barley, corn, wheat, millet, or teff. For fermentation, shiny-leaf buckthorn leaves that have been dried and powdered are utilized.

  • keribo recipe

    Keribo Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    One of the most popular traditional fermented drinks in Ethiopian rural and urban areas is Keribo, also known as Keneto. It is frequently served on holidays and during special events like weddings. Keribo is made using sugar and overtoasted barley grain. Here is a simple recipe that you may use to create Keribo at home.

  • shamita recipe

    Shamita Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Shamita is a traditional fermented beverage widely consumed in different regions of Ethiopia, especially by the Gurage people. It is low in alcohol content, and is made by overnight fermentation of mainly roasted barley flour. Because of its thick consistency and being a good source of protin, Shamita has been known to be used as a meal replacement. However, it has poor keeping quality and must be consumed within a few hours after being ready for consumption.

  • yesuf fitfit 1 1

    YeSuf Fitfit Recipe

    Cooks in 50 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Learn how to make Yesuf (Sunflower seed) Fitfit 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.

  • yesuf weha ethiopian sunflower seeds juice recipe

    YeSuf Weha (Ethiopian Sunflower Seeds Juice) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    YeSuf Weha is a tasty Ethiopian drink that also comes with a lot of health benefits thanks to the sunflower seeds that are the core ingredient of the drink. Sunflowers are a great source of heart-healthy fats, as well as a number of vitamins and minerals that may help lessen your chance of developing common health issues such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It is also vegan/vegetarian friendly.

  • yenug weha ethiopian niger seeds juice recipe

    YeNug Weha (Ethiopian Niger Seeds Juice) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    YeNug Weha is another one Ethiopia’s refreshing and healthy beverages. While it’s not quite a popular drink, it certainly does bring a lot to the table. The core ingredient of YeNug Weha is Nug (Niger Seeds), which originated in Ethiopia and is believed to have been domesticated before 3000 BC in the highlands of Ethiopia, where it is still cultivated as an oilseed crop. YeNug Weha has a slight nutty taste that comes from the Niger seeds, and is great source of amino acids. Here is a simple recipe that you can follow to make YeNug Weha at home.

Ethiopian cuisine is a haven for vegans, providing a wide range of flavorful and nourishing dishes that celebrate the abundance of plant-based ingredients. From the wholesome goodness of Misir Wot to the comforting flavors of Fasolia Wot and the aromatic delight of Gomen, these popular Ethiopian vegan dishes offer a culinary experience that is both satisfying and ethically conscious.

Whether you’re a committed vegan or simply looking to explore new and exciting flavors, Ethiopian cuisine is a delightful journey into the world of vegan gastronomy. So, venture into an Ethiopian restaurant or try your hand at preparing these dishes at home, and let the vibrant flavors and wholesome goodness of Ethiopian vegan cuisine awaken your taste buds and nourish your soul.

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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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