Injera Recipe – Ethiopian Bread

Teff Injera Recipe

Authentic Teff Injera recipe using gluten free fermented sourdough teff flour.

Gluten-free Vegetarian Vegan

Injera is an Ethiopian flatbread made from fermented Teff flour sourdough. Injera also known as Ethiopian bread is thinner than a pancake and has a slight spongy texture. On one side, Injera has a honeycombed looking pattern intended to absorb the sauces and stews it is served with.

Injera Ethiopian Bread

Injera is the staple food in Ethiopia making it the essential component of most Ethiopian dishes. Dining and sharing Ethiopian food from a common plate of Injera is a traditional and intimate practice among friends and family.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups of Teff flour
  • 2 cups of lukewarm water
  • 1 cup sourdough starter
  • ½ teaspoon fenugreek powder

Method

  1. Add all ingredients into a mixing bowl
  2. Mix and knead the dough for about 7 minutes
  3. Top the batter with another 4 cups of water and leave it unmixed
  4. Cover the bowl and leave it in a normal temperature room for 4 days
  5. On the 4th day, you will find the dough separated from the extra water
  6. Replace the water slowly without mixing, cover and leave it for another day
  7. Get rid of the extra water leaving about a cup and mix it well
  8. In a small pot, boil a large cup of water
  9. Reduce the heat and add half cup of the batter and quickly mix it to avoid lumps forming
  10. Simmer for few minutes and let it cool down for at least 5 minutes
  11. Add the cooked batter into your bowl and mix it well making sure there are no lumps left
  12. Cover and let the mixture seat for another 12 hours
  13. Adjust the consistency by adding around a cup of cold water making sure you end up with a batter thinner than pancake one
  14. Use a measuring jug to add around 300ml of the batter to make an injera
  15. Heat you Mitad (pan like Injera grill) to 350 degrees
  16. Start from outside and pour a jug of the batter into the Mitad forming a large round injera
  17. Let it cook uncovered for about 15 seconds until the porous start forming
  18. Cover with the lead and let it cook for about 2 minutes
  19. Use a flat plate to take out the Injera and let it cool down
  20. Server on flat plate and topped with sauces or stews

Teff Injera

Injera is traditionally made from Teff flour but you can also use buckwheat or wheat flour. Teff also known as Eragrostis tef is a tiny seed-like species of lovegrass native to the highlands of Ethiopia.

Teff Injera

Teff Injera is very nutritious and is rich in iron, protein, dietary fiber, magnesium, calcium, zinc and vitamins. Being gluten-free and having a high nutritional value, Teff has become a superfood.

Teff injera is rich in resistant starch, a carbohydrate that helps with blood sugar and weight management. It is also low in Saturated Fat, Sodium and naturally lowers blood pressure and the risk of heart diseases. Teff flour is also used in other types of Ethiopian breads.