Amhari Mesir Wat Recipes

MESIR WAT (ETHIOPIAN RED LENTILS)

Steps:

• Puree onion, garlic, and ginger in a food processor or blender.
• Heat oil, butter or niter kibbeh in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add turmeric, paprika and cayenne pepper and stir rapidly to color oil and cook spices through, about 30 seconds. Add onion puree and sauté on medium heat until excess moisture evaporates and onion loses its raw aroma, about 5-10 minutes. Do not burn.
• Add lentils and water. Bring to a boil and simmer till lentils are cooked through and fall apart, about 30-40 minutes. Add water if necessary to keep from drying out. This should be the consistency of a thick paste so that it can be scooped up with injera.
• Stir in salt and pepper to taste and serve.

ETHIOPIAN LENTIL MESIR WAT

Steps:

• Wash lentils few times with water.
• Leave in water (tap water) in bowl.
• In a pot add oil and onion. Sauté until it starts to brown.
• Add berbere and let simmer for about 20 minutes stirring frequently and add 1/4 cup of water as needed.
• Drain lentils and add to the pot.
• Stir frequently until tender for about 20 minute.
• Add 2 cups of water.
• Bring to boil and simmer covered in medium-low heat for about 20 minutes.
• Stir occasionally untill tender.

MESIR WAT

Steps:

• Over medium high heat saute the onions stirring frequently (5min).
• Add the tomato paste and keep stirring (5min).
• Next add the berbere and cook for 5 minutes adding a little bit of water when the bottom of the pot starts catching. Keep stirring.
• Add the rinsed lentils and cook together for an additional 5 minutes (continue to stir adding a bit of water so that the mixture doesn't burn).
• Add about 5 cups of water and bring to a boil. Occasionally stir.
• Once the water reduces and lentils have thickened add the ground coriander, garlic and salt. Reduce heat and leave for about 5 minutes.
• Serve with injera.