Injera, zigni and shiro: a first guide to Eritrean food

Eritrean food is built around sharing. Dishes are served together on one large round plate lined with injera, and everyone eats from it with their right hand, tearing off pieces of bread to scoop up the stews.

Injera

Injera (እንጀራ) is a large, soft, spongy flatbread with a slightly sour taste. It is made from a fermented batter, traditionally of taff (ጣፍ), a tiny grain grown in the Horn of Africa, often mixed with other flours. It is both the plate and the cutlery: stews are spooned onto it, and extra rolls are served on the side.

The dishes you will see first

• Zigni (ዝግኒ) - a rich, spicy stew of beef or lamb cooked slowly with onions and berbere (በርበረ), the red spice blend at the heart of Eritrean cooking.
• Shiro (ሽሮ) - a smooth, comforting stew of spiced chickpea flour. Simple, cheap and loved by everyone; often the dish people miss most.
• Tsebhi (ጸብሒ) - the general word for a stew; you will see tsebhi derho (chicken), tsebhi birsen (lentils) and more.
• Hilbet (ሕልበት) - a light, whipped paste of lentils or broad beans with fenugreek, served cool.
• Ful (ፉል) - broad beans mashed with oil, onion, tomato and chilli, eaten for breakfast with bread.
• Kicha fit-fit (ቂጫ ፍትፍት) - torn flatbread tossed with spiced butter and berbere, often with yoghurt; a breakfast favourite.

Fasting food

Many Eritreans fast: Orthodox Christians on Wednesdays, Fridays and during the longer fasting seasons, and Muslims during Ramadan and on other days of the year. For Orthodox Christians traditions avoid meat and dairy at these times. That is why so many Eritrean dishes are vegan - shiro, lentils, hilbet and vegetable stews - and why restaurants usually offer a "fasting" platter.

At the table

• Eat with your right hand.
• Take from the part of the plate in front of you.
• If someone places a bite in your mouth, that is a mukhlas - a sign of affection and respect. Accepting it graciously is part of the meal.
• A meal is often followed by the coffee ceremony.

Where to find it

Eritrean restaurants are found in many cities with an Eritrean community. Once the directory is open, the Eritrean.net business listings will show the ones near you.