Vegan in Ethiopia
Orthodox fasting days mean plant-based food is a mainstream, everyday tradition rather than a niche. Ask for 'beyaynetu' — a platter of lentil, split pea and vegetable stews on injera — and you are eating what most of the country eats on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Plant-based friendliness
85
Dishes that are already plant-based
Beyaynetu
Fasting platter of several vegan stews on injera.
Misir wot
Spiced red lentil stew with berbere.
Shiro
Ground chickpea stew — check it is made with oil, not butter.
Gomen
Braised collard greens.
Market staples
Teff injeraRed lentilsSplit peasCollard greensBerbereChickpea flour
Phrases to use
- Ye tsom migib
- Fasting food (plant-based).
- Kibe yelewim
- Without butter.
Watch out for
- Niter kibbeh (spiced clarified butter) in non-fasting versions of the same dishes
- Honey in tej and some desserts
- Barley injera blends are fine, but some restaurants add egg to modern breads
Questions people ask
What day is easiest to eat vegan in Ethiopia?
Wednesday and Friday, plus the long fasting seasons, when nearly every kitchen cooks fasting food by default.
Is injera vegan?
Traditional teff injera is just fermented teff and water — yes.