Fragrant Ethiopian chickpea stew with warm spices that comes together in 45 minutes. Vegan, gluten-free and a delicious but hearty meal that everyone will love!
On a large skillet, dry roast ¾ cup of chickpea flour along with a tablespoon of berbere spice, and 1 teaspoon each of ground cardamom, white cumin powder, and garlic powder. Set aside. You can add the salt now or wait until later. Note: If you have an Ethiopian grocery store nearby, you can also buy shiro powder!
Making Shiro Wat
In a medium sized pot or Dutch oven, heat ⅓ cup of olive oil on low to medium heat. Add 1 diced onion over low to medium heat for a few minutes. This is just to get the aromatics fragrant so 1-2 minutes is sufficient, don't let it brown!
Next, add a teaspoon of minced garlic along with the tomato paste and sauté for 30 seconds until the garlic is fragrant.
Now, add the shiro powder, along with salt and 3 cups of water, and bring to a boil on medium heat. Then, turn down the heat to a low to medium, and let it simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes to allow the mixture to thicken to your desired consistency. Stir at 5 minute increments to ensure it doesn't stick. The oil will float to the top when the shiro is done cooking! Taste and adjust salt and serve hot with rice or injera!
Notes
Ingredient variations: You can buy shiro powder from most Ethiopian or Eritrean grocery stores. If you want to add more complex flavors, you can use Ethiopian basil. Finally, if you don't have berbere, you can substitute with a teaspoon each of paprika, red chili powder, and coriander powder.