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
Dentiste Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
Awesome blog you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any discussion boards that cover the same topics discussed here? I’d really like to be a part of group where I can get comments from other knowledgeable individuals that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Cheers!
Dentiste Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
Simply wanna remark on few general things, The website style and design is perfect, the content is rattling great : D.
calvin klein pesu naistele
vykřiknout a říct, že mě opravdu baví číst vaše příspěvky na blogu.
Lipovive
Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely helpful info specially the last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was seeking this particular info for a long time. Thank you and good luck.
calibración de micropipeta
I appreciate, cause I found just what I was looking for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
Neuro Energizer
I believe this is among the so much vital info for me. And i’m happy studying your article. But should commentary on few common issues, The site taste is perfect, the articles is in reality nice : D. Just right job, cheers
macan empire
Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your website is so cool. I am impressed by the details that you¦ve on this site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for more articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched all over the place and just could not come across. What an ideal site.
macan empire
Nice post. I used to be checking continuously this blog and I am impressed! Very useful information specifically the final section 🙂 I take care of such info much. I used to be seeking this particular info for a long time. Thanks and good luck.
Escalade de bloc centre-ville Montréal
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You clearly know what youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just posting videos to your blog when you could be giving us something informative to read?
slot macan empire
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your blog and in accession capital to assert that I get in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I’ll be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently fast.
Prozenith
Hello There. I discovered your blog the use of msn. This is an extremely smartly written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to learn more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely return.
Prozenith
Hi, Neat post. There’s an issue with your web site in web explorer, may check this?K IE nonetheless is the marketplace leader and a huge section of other people will pass over your great writing because of this problem.
Soulmate Sketch
Great tremendous issues here. I?¦m very happy to see your article. Thank you a lot and i am having a look ahead to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?
Sherry Gantt
Sherry Gantt
VigorLong
I have been surfing on-line more than 3 hours as of late, yet I never discovered any attention-grabbing article like yours. It is lovely price enough for me. Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made excellent content as you did, the web might be much more helpful than ever before. “When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.” by Lao Tzu.
piso rustico de tijolo
Whats Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It absolutely useful and it has helped me out loads. I hope to give a contribution & help other users like its aided me. Great job.
cemiterio pisos
I am no longer positive the place you are getting your info, however great topic. I needs to spend a while studying much more or understanding more. Thank you for fantastic information I was in search of this information for my mission.
salt trick for men
Very interesting details you have observed, appreciate it for posting. “The biggest fool may come out with a bit of sense when you least expect it.” by Eden Phillpotts.
blue salt trick
I truly enjoy studying on this internet site, it contains wonderful posts.
Dentiste Boucherville
Thank you for helping out, excellent info. “Job dissatisfaction is the number one factor in whether you survive your first heart attack.” by Anthony Robbins.