Spicy Berbere Lentil Chili
This post may include Amazon links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I’m proud to collaborate with more than 30 Black recipe developers as we celebrate Black History Month 2022. This Virtual Potluck explores Black food through the lens of Afrofuturism. Our collaboration of recipes explores the intersection of the Black diaspora via culture, future, geopolitics, imagination, liberation, culture, and technology.
Cook and share the inspiring recipes by checking out the list of participants below. Follow each participant and continue the discussion with us on social media using the hashtag #BHMVP2022!
Afrofuturism to me represents the familiarity of the past while embracing the future. Shaping and reimagining what Sunday dinner looks like, or cookies and milk for dessert, or in this case, a classic comfort stew. How we embrace creature comforts from our childhood while exploring foods from our ancestral lineage.
Winter in the Washington DC area usually runs from December through early April. I have seen the weather get down into the single digits. When that chill hits the air all I want is comfort food. Comfort food can mean something different to everyone. For me, comfort is anything that leaves me feeling satiated, like cheesy potatoes, savory meaty, and sugary sweets. Hearty dishes like soups and stews are at the top of my list to stay warm during the winter season.
We usually enjoy an extra meaty chili every winter, while we cuddle up with our favorite adult beverage. If there is a Hot Toddy on the menu in winter, it’s a good day. This year we are nixing the meat in favor of incorporating more plant-based ingredients into some of the dishes we keep in rotation. Instead of meats I thought why not beans. Beans can be very filling, nutritious, and taste just as hearty as meat.
What is Chili?
Chili, sometimes referred to as chili con carne, originates in Mexico and was brought into the United States through Mexico. Chili is a stew of meat, tomatoes, and beans seasoned with chili powder. There is often debate about whether or not chili should include beans. I like a chunky chili so I prefer beans in my chili. Tomatoes are another debated ingredient, with some people opting for tomato sauce in place of stewed or diced tomatoes.
Why Lentils?
Traditionally when beans are used in a chili they are kidney beans, and in recent years white chili, using white beans, has become a popular alternative to tomato-based chili. When I thought about all of the vegetarian dishes I enjoy many of them are Ethiopian. My favorite Ethiopian dish has to be Gomen, a collard green-based dish made with niter kibbeh, which is an Ethiopian spiced clarified butter infused with herbs and spices. But for my vegetarian chili I knew I wanted to enhance the dish with beans, and lentils are a meaty replacement. Lentils can be a good source of protein and fiber. Inspired by Ethiopian Misir Wot, a spicy red lentil dish, I decided to add a spicy twist to our seasonal chili.
What is Berbere?
In an effort to eat more sustainably, and boost their immune systems, many people are leaning into more plant-based dishes, including my family. To modify my recipe, in addition to the traditional chili powder and kidney beans used in this classic dish, I fold in red lentils and berbere for spice. Berbere is an Ethiopian staple, a spice blend that usually includes chili peppers. The spice can also be a blend of cumin, ginger, paprika, cardamom, and many other spices. Berbere actually means “hot” in Amharic, one of the main languages spoken in Ethiopia.
What is the story?
The berbere spice gives the stew a spicy, rich mouthfeel. In place of the standard toppings, like sour cream and cheese, I sprinkle on spiced groundnuts for crunch and texture. Groundnuts, I used peanuts, are a staple across many African countries for soups and stews. Over crackers, I choose sweet plantains and savory injera crisps to compliment our bowl of chili.
This recipe will feel like the comforts of tradition while embracing change. As the African Diaspora seeks out alternatives to processed food, more sustainable food options, and connections to their roots, plant-based foods will be one of the main ingredients to act as a link toward building that relationship to the continent.
The Eat the Culture Black History Month collaboration is an opportunity for Black creatives in the food and beverage space to support each other in our efforts to uplift our culture. Be sure to comment below, pin, and share this recipe with your friends and family. Also don’t forget to take a look at some of my friends’ great recipes below:
Fonio Bundt Cake with Hibiscus Glaze by A Classic Twist
Collard Green Hand Pies by A Girl Called Adri
Sweet Potato Wedges with Peanut Dipping Sauce by Big Delicious Life
Sweet Potato Biscuits by Black Girls Who Brunch
Chicken Plantains and Vegetables by Black Peoples Recipes
Bobo de Camarao (Brazilian Shrimp Stew) by Brazilian Kitchen Abroad
Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart with Candied Peanuts by Britney Breaks Bread
Vegan Coconut Cake with Lime Glaze by Chenée Today
Fried Green Tomato BLT by Coined Cuisine
Shrimp Po’ Boy Salad by Collards Are The Old Kale
Warm Brewed Zobo Drink by Dash of Jazz
Sorrel Martini Popsicles by Dish It With Tisha
Fish Patties with Pontchartrain Sauce by Dude That Cookz
Stuffed Shrimp & Grit Collard Green Rolls by Fior
Salmorejo (Stewed Crab) over Garlic Grits by Sense & Edibility®
Brown Butter Brulé Bean Pie by The Queen of Yum
See the full list of participants at Eat the Culture!
Spicy Berbere Lentil Chili
Ingredients
Method
- Heat a large pot on medium heat. This could be a Dutch oven style pot. Heat for 4-5 minutes.
- Add 1 Tbsp of oil. Oil should be added only after the pot has had time to warm up. Heat the oil for 3-4 minutes still on medium heat.
- Add in 1 cup of diced yellow onion, 1 cup of red onion, and 1 tsp of ginger. Saute until onions are translucent.
- Stir in 1 Tbsp of Ghee and 1 Tbsp of minced garlic.
- Add in your spices: 3 Tbsp berbere, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp sea salt, ½ tsp black pepper, ½ Tbsp chili powder, 1 Tbsp smoked paprika. Toast for 5 minutes stirring regularly. (See Notes)
- Stir in the 2 Tbsp of tomato paste, add ½ cup hot water, simmer 10 minutes then add the remaining ½ cup of hot water (add more hot water if the mixture gets too thick).
- While the mixture is simmering rinse 1 cup of lentils under cold water.
- Stir in 1 16 ounce can of stewed tomatoes, 1 15 ounce kidney beans, 1 cup of red lentils, and 2 cups vegetable broth.
- Simmer on medium-low for 25 minutes, taste and adjust seasoning at this time if necessary.
- After 25 min (see step 9), taste your chili for the appropriate seasoning. You are also tasting for tenderness of the lentils. If they are still crunchy you will add more cooking time. Note the consistency of your chili as well. At this stage, I added 1 cup of vegetable broth, for a total of three cups. You may opt not to include the additional cup if you prefer a thicker consistency.
- Cook an additional 25 minutes. Then taste again for seasoning and texture consistency.
- Once the chili is done, top it with your preferred toppings. I chose to lightly fry okra in a frying pan using ½ Tbsp of ghee, seasoned with salt and pepper.
- For a nice crunch, I toasted a half cup of groundnuts, or peanuts, in a frying pan using ½ Tbsp of ghee, seasoned with sea salt, pepper, garlic powder and berbere to taste.
- Enjoy your chili!
Notes
- Use 3 Cups of broth for a looser consistency or 2 Cups for a thicker stew consistency
- Though I provide measurements, season to taste. It is essential to test at key points during the cooking process to ensure the spice level is to your liking.
- I was specifically going for a slightly sweet and spicy chili. Reduce the brown sugar to 1 Tablespoon for a more subtle sweetness or eliminate it completely to indulge in the spice alone.
- I purchased the Niter Kibbeh my local Ethiopian market, where I also found Injera crisps which were a nice compliment to the finished chili. If you are unable to find ghee at a store near you, you may use unsalted butter.
- To make this dish vegan, simply omit the ghee.
Discover more from Flights and Foods
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
4,937 Comments
Electronics Accessories
Finally, content worth reading. It’s great to find posts like this one.
Deluna4d
I will immediately grab your rss feed as I can’t in finding your email subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly permit me recognise so that I may subscribe. Thanks.|
Electronics Store
This is a perfect example of quality content. You can tell that plenty of thought when into this post. Keep it up.
Deluna4d
I’m really enjoying the theme/design of your website. Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility problems? A few of my blog readers have complained about my website not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Safari. Do you have any tips to help fix this problem?|
Best AI Girlfriend
Hey there! This post could not be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my good old room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this post to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
Protogel
I have realized that over the course of constructing a relationship with real estate owners, you’ll be able to come to understand that, in every single real estate exchange, a fee is paid. Eventually, FSBO sellers tend not to “save” the fee. Rather, they try to earn the commission by means of doing a strong agent’s work. In accomplishing this, they invest their money along with time to conduct, as best they’re able to, the duties of an real estate agent. Those jobs include revealing the home via marketing, representing the home to prospective buyers, constructing a sense of buyer emergency in order to induce an offer, organizing home inspections, handling qualification check ups with the loan company, supervising maintenance, and aiding the closing of the deal.
Protogel
you’re really a good webmaster. The website loading speed is amazing. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Also, The contents are masterpiece. you have done a great job on this topic!
* * * $3,222 payment available * * * hs=39d83fd4530bcc8a7a11c56cb9bf64a9* ххх*
mgoluv
* * * $3,222 deposit available! Confirm your transfer here: https://oceantradeshipping.com/index.php?2kv8qm * * * hs=39d83fd4530bcc8a7a11c56cb9bf64a9* ххх*
mgoluv
Deluna4d
Hello I am so thrilled I found your blog page, I really found you by mistake, while I was browsing on Askjeeve for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like to say thank you for a marvelous post and a all round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at the moment but I have saved it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the superb jo.|
ceritoto login
Spot on with this write-up, I really assume this website wants far more consideration. I’ll in all probability be once more to learn much more, thanks for that info.
link ceritoto
Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read anything like this before. So good to seek out any person with some unique thoughts on this subject. realy thanks for beginning this up. this web site is something that’s needed on the internet, somebody with somewhat originality. useful job for bringing something new to the web!
Deluna4d
Very nice article, exactly what I was looking for.|
ceritoto slot
I used to be more than happy to search out this internet-site.I needed to thanks to your time for this wonderful learn!! I undoubtedly enjoying each little little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post.
Inatogel
I have noticed that repairing credit activity should be conducted with techniques. If not, it’s possible you’ll find yourself causing harm to your standing. In order to reach your goals in fixing to your credit rating you have to make sure that from this time you pay your entire monthly dues promptly before their appointed date. It is really significant since by definitely not accomplishing so, all other activities that you will decide to try to improve your credit position will not be effective. Thanks for expressing your strategies.
nalla neram today
Some really wonderful information, Gladiolus I discovered this. “Leaders must encourage their organizations to dance to forms of music yet to be heard.” by Warren Bennis.
ஜாதகம் பொருத்தம்
fantastic points altogether, you simply received a logo new reader. What may you recommend in regards to your publish that you simply made some days in the past? Any certain?
Markus Warshaw
Hello very cool web site!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your blog and take the feeds additionally?KI am satisfied to search out so many useful info right here within the put up, we’d like work out more techniques on this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
Inatogel
Hi, Neat post. There is a problem with your site in internet explorer, would check this? IE still is the market leader and a huge portion of people will miss your excellent writing due to this problem.
Bk8
I?ve read a few excellent stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how so much attempt you set to make any such wonderful informative web site.