Should you soak lentils before cooking them?

Lentils don’t need to be soaked. You might save a few minutes of cooking time but lose precious nutrients by soaking them.

Where can I buy Berbere spice mix?

You might find Berbere in large grocery stores that cater to world cuisines. The ingredients to make your own u003ca href=u0022https://veganwithgusto.com/berbere-spice-mix/u0022u003eBerbere spice mixu003c/au003e are probably available, but your best bet to find a pre-made mix is at a specialty store that caters to North African cuisines.

What is the difference between split red lentils and whole?

Red lentils can be purchased whole or split. Generally, they have the skins removed, making them orangish in appearance. Split red lentils take less cooking time, resulting in a creamier texture; however, split and whole can be used interchangeably.

Spicy Misir Wot (Ethiopian Red Lentil Stew)

Name: Spicy Misir Wot (Ethiopian Red Lentil Stew)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: Ethiopian
Ingredients: 1 large or 2 medium onions diced (about 2 cups); 6 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced; 1 teaspoon turmeric; ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom; 1/3 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg; ½ cup water; 2 medium tomatoes, diced (about 2 cups); 2 -3 tablespoons Berbere spice blend; 2 cups red lentils, rinsed and sorted (I prefer split lentils, but you can use whole); 4 cups water

Spicy Misir Wot (Ethiopian Red Lentil Stew)

Red lentils in a bowl with Berbere spices and lemon slices.

Print Recipe

★★★★

3.7 from 3 reviews

Tantalize your taste buds with the amazing flavor of fragrant and spicy Misir Wot, Ethiopian red lentil stew with Berbere spice blend.

Author: Denise
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: Stew
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Ethiopian
Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 large or 2 medium onions diced (about 2 cups)
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/3 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup water
2 medium tomatoes, diced (about 2 cups)
2 -3 tablespoons Berbere spice blend
2 cups red lentils, rinsed and sorted (I prefer split lentils, but you can use whole)
4 cups water

Instructions

Preheat a large pot over medium heat, then add the onions. Cook the onions until they start to become translucent and brown. If the onions begin to stick, add water a tablespoon at a time.
Add the garlic, ginger, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir to coat everything in the spices for about 30 seconds to a minute.
Immediately, add ½ cup of water to deglaze the pan.
Add the tomatoes and allow them to cook and break down for another 10 minutes.
Add 2 cups of lentils, 4 cups of water, and 2-3 tablespoons of the Berbere spice blend. Mix everything, cover the pot, and allow the lentils to simmer until they are tender (15-20 minutes). Add more water, ½ cup at-a-time if the lentils are not tender after the liquid is absorbed.
Season with salt and pepper if desired.

Notes

This recipe calls for split red lentils. They cook faster and have a creamier texture than whole red lentils. If you use whole lentils, allow an additional 10-15 minutes (or more) of cooking time. Monitor the water and add more if needed. Cook until the lentils are tender.
We highly recommend a homemade Berbere spice blend. You’ll need a spice grinder and a skillet for the whole spices. It makes enough for this recipe, several Ethiopian dishes, or another Ethiopian red lentil stew.
To make this in the Instant Pot, cook the lentils on High Pressure for 5 minutes with 15 minutes of natural pressure release (NPR).

Keywords: misir wot, misir wat, Ethiopian lentils,

Find it online: https://veganwithgusto.com/ethiopian-lentils/