This easy Ethiopian cut up pea stew, kik alicha, is a warming predominant dish with simply six components. Serve with Injera, flatbread or rice. (gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free). This put up was initially printed on Feb 7 2013

My subsequent selection of delicacies after Indian is Ethiopian. The dishes are so flavorful and properly spiced. If you wish to attempt making it at residence, kik alicha is a superb start line. It’s a very simple dish to make and doesn’t require a ton of spices or difficult processes.
Kik alicha is a spiced cut up pea stew that’s very related in preparation to Indian cut up pea dal. You simply sauté some aromatics, add your spices, then add soaked and rinsed cut up peas. Simmer, and also you’re executed!
For extra genuine taste, get some non dairy nitter kibbeh(Ethiopian spiced butter/oil), and use that to sauté the aromatics. You may make your personal as properly.

You should utilize yellow cut up peas, inexperienced cut up peas, or a mixture on this recipe. The cooking time goes to rely upon the age of your cut up peas. In case your cut up peas are fairly contemporary, they’ll prepare dinner to tender in 45 minutes to an hour. In the event that they’re previous, be ready to allow them to simmer for extra like two hours.
Cooking time additionally will depend on how tender you need your cut up peas. Historically, kik alicha is kind of smooth, and you then mash a number of the cut up peas after simmering. However in order for you yours a bit firmer, you can begin checking in on them sooner throughout simmering.
Nevertheless you make it, this easy cut up pea stew is totally scrumptious, with flavors of ginger, garlic, and turmeric!

Why You’ll Love Kik Alicha
- scrumptious, protein-packed dish
- one-pot Ethiopian entree made with frequent pantry components
- versatile! Make it hotter with inexperienced chili and berbere, in case you like!
- naturally gluten-free, nut-free, and soy free
Extra Vegan Ethiopian-Impressed Recipes
- 1/2 cup dry cut up peas, soak in a single day or 2 hours. Use yellow, inexperienced, or a mixture!
- 2 teaspoons oil
- 1 cup chopped purple onion
- 4-5 garlic cloves , minced
- 2 teaspoons minced ginger
- 1 serrano pepper, or jalapeño, chopped, optionally available
- 1/3 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon berbere spice mix, optionally available, for a spicier wat model
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to style
- black pepper, to style
- 2 cups water
Stop your display from going darkish
-
Soak the cut up peas in a single day or not less than 2 hours in heat water, drain and rinse. See notes beneath for stress cooker instructions.
-
In a deep pan, add the oil or non dairy nitter kibbeh(Ethiopian spiced oil). As soon as the oil is scorching, add onions, ginger, garlic, and chopped Serrano or jalapeño, if utilizing. Cook dinner stirring often, till translucent. Add splashes of water if wanted to assist prepare dinner the onion evenly. Add the turmeric and berbere, if utilizing, and blend properly.
-
Add rinsed cut up peas, salt, pepper and water. Combine, cowl and convey to a boil on medium warmth.
-
Scale back warmth to low and simmer, partially coated for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or till peas have softened to your required consistency. Style and regulate salt and spice if wanted.
-
Mash the peas if desired. Add some lemon juice, if desired, and serve. Tastes greatest with a bitter flat bread, like Injera, however you can even serve it with rice or flatbread of selection.
To make within the Instantaneous Pot: observe the entire sauté directions on sauté mode, then change off sauté, then stress prepare dinner the combination for 10 to fifteen minutes at excessive stress, relying on the cut up peas used, then do a pure launch.
Energy: 226kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 12g, Fats: 4g, Sodium: 600mg, Potassium: 547mg, Fiber: 13g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 75IU, Vitamin C: 4.8mg, Calcium: 50mg, Iron: 2.4mg
Vitamin info is routinely calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.

Components and Substitutions
- dry cut up peas – Use yellow, inexperienced, or a mixture of the 2. Soak for 2 hours, then drain and rinse.
- oil – To sauté.
- aromatics – That is your onion, garlic, and ginger. You can even add a inexperienced chili, like Serrano or jalapeño, for extra warmth, in case you like.
- spices – Turmeric is the primary spice in kik alicha, together with salt and pepper, however you can even add some berbere for a warmer model.
- water – To prepare dinner the cut up peas.
💡 Suggestions
- Cooking time for the cut up peas will fluctuate relying on how previous they’re and the way smooth you need them. They’ll take wherever from 45 minutes to 2 hours or extra. Older cut up peas want so much longer to prepare dinner.
Make Ethiopian Cut up Pea Stew
Soak the cut up peas in a single day or not less than 2 hours in heat water, drain and rinse. See notes for stress cooker instructions.
In a deep pan, add the oil. As soon as the oil is scorching, add onions, ginger, garlic, and chopped Serrano or jalapeño, if utilizing. Cook dinner stirring often, till translucent.
Add the turmeric and berbere, if utilizing, and blend properly.
Add rinsed cut up peas, salt, pepper and water. Combine, cowl and convey to a boil on medium warmth.
Scale back warmth to low and simmer, partially coated for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or till peas have softened to your required consistency. Style and regulate salt and spice if wanted.Â
Mash the peas if desired. Add some lemon juice, if desired, and serve. Tastes greatest with a bitter flat bread, like Injera, however you can even serve it with rice or flatbread of selection.

What to Serve with Kik Alicha
Serve this with rice, Injera, or your flatbread of selection.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
Sure! Kik alicha is of course gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free.
This easy stew is thick and hearty with delicate notes of ginger and turmeric. If you happen to like a spicier dish, you possibly can add inexperienced chili and berbere to up the warmth and taste.