Injera (Ethiopian Flat Bread) Recipe
🕒 Total Time: 72 hours and 20 minutes
🥘 Yield: 3 servings
🥑 Calories per Serving: 379.9
Description:
Prepare to embark on a culinary adventure with this traditional Ethiopian flatbread recipe. Injera, a spongy, sourdough-like bread, serves as a staple accompaniment to various Ethiopian dishes. Delight in its unique texture and tangy flavor, perfect for soaking up the rich flavors of Ethiopian stews.
Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 cups unbleached white flour
- 1/2 cup self-rising flour
- 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon dry yeast
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
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Prepare the Dough:
- In a spacious glass or ceramic bowl, combine the flours and dry yeast, ensuring they are thoroughly mixed.
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Mix in Water:
- Gradually pour the warm water into the flour mixture, stirring continuously until a smooth batter forms.
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Fermentation:
- Allow the mixture to ferment at room temperature for a full 72 hours, stirring it gently once each day. Over this time, the mixture will develop a bubbly consistency as it ferments.
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Add Baking Soda and Salt:
- After the fermentation period, sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the batter. Let it sit for an additional 10-15 minutes to allow the ingredients to incorporate.
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Preheat the Skillet:
- Heat a 9″ skillet over medium-high heat until it reaches the optimal temperature for cooking injera. You’ll know it’s ready when droplets of water sizzle and bounce off the surface.
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Cooking:
- Quickly pour approximately one-third of the batter onto the skillet, ensuring it spreads out evenly to coat the entire surface.
- Cook the injera on one side only, without flipping, until the moisture evaporates, and small “eyes” form on the surface. This process typically takes a few minutes.
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Repeat:
- Repeat the cooking process with the remaining batter, ensuring each injera is cooked to perfection.
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Serve:
- Once cooked, serve the injera alongside traditional Ethiopian stews and dishes, allowing its unique texture and tangy flavor to complement the meal perfectly.
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 379.9
- Fat: 1.2g
- Saturated Fat: 0.2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 869mg
- Carbohydrates: 79.2g
- Fiber: 4.2g
- Sugar: 0.3g
- Protein: 11.9g
Recipe Notes:
- Injera is traditionally served as a communal dish, with diners tearing off pieces to scoop up their food.
- Store any leftover injera in an airtight container to maintain its freshness.
- Experiment with different flours and fermentation times to achieve your desired flavor and texture.
- Enjoy the cultural experience of sharing injera with family and friends, embracing the rich culinary heritage of Ethiopia.
