Skip to main content

Ethiopian Cholent

by Tadesse Gebru
A bold and deeply flavorful Ethiopian-inspired lentil stew, featuring the iconic kick of berbere spice. This hearty, plant-based dish is perfect for a comforting and nutritious meal.
Total Time
6 hours and 10 mins
Difficulty
Easy

Translate this page to your language!

Simple Tasty Recipes

Ingredients for 3 Servings

  • 15 ounces
    Brown or green lentils, rinsed
  • 2/3 ounce
    Berbere spice mix
  • 1 ounce
    Stewed tomatoes
  • 12 ounces
    Firm silken tofu, cubed
  • 3 cups
    Vegetable broth or water

Time

  • Preparation Time
    10 mins
  • Cooking Time
    6 hours
  • Total Time
    6 hours and 10 mins

Goes Great with

Method

  1. Rinse the lentils thoroughly under cold running water and remove any debris.
  2. Place the lentils, berbere spice mix, and stewed tomatoes into the slow cooker.
  3. Add the vegetable broth or water, stirring gently to ensure the spices are evenly distributed.
  4. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the lentils are tender and have absorbed most of the liquid.
  5. Gently fold in the cubed tofu during the last 30 minutes of cooking to allow it to warm through without breaking apart.
  6. Serve hot, ideally accompanied by injera or your favorite flatbread.

Notes:

Pro Tips:
  • Berbere is a potent spice blend; if you are sensitive to heat, start with half the amount and adjust to your preference.
  • For a deeper flavor profile, sauté a small diced onion and minced garlic before adding the ingredients to the crockpot.
  • If you cannot find stewed tomatoes, crushed canned tomatoes work perfectly as a substitute.
  • This dish pairs beautifully with steamed collard greens (Gomen) to balance the spice.
Goes Great with

Use our search tool to find a recipe


Cooking Convertion Calculator


Related Video