Eating with injera

Injera used in dish

Injera is both a flatbread, an eating utensil, and a plate. Pieces of injera are used to pick up bites of entrées and side dishes. When the entire “tablecloth” of injera is gone, the meal is over. Utensils are optional.

Injera is a sourdough-risen gluten-free flatbread with a slightly spongy texture. It’s traditionally made out of tiny, iron-rich teff seeds, which are ground into flour. It’s the national dish of Ethiopia and Eritrea and central to any meal in the region.

Teff production is limited to certain middle elevations with adequate rainfall, and, as it is a low-yield crop, and is it is relatively expensive for the average household. To make injera, teff flour is mixed with water. The fermentation process is triggered by adding ersho, obtained from previous fermentations. The mixture is then allowed to ferment for an average of two to three days, giving it a mildly sour taste. The injera is baked into large, flat pancakes. The production of teff dates back a few thousands years.
