Nafqot ena Amrot

Missing Ethiopian Food

I am very adaptive and have done fine without my grounding comforts often. But of the many soft spots I have, food is the most gripping. Ethiopian cuisine has captured my heart and palate since I could eat solids. It is a critical component of what my upbringing has been like back in Ethiopia. I'm very fond of the aromas and flavors unique to this place. It is hard to find or recreate Ethiopian food elsewhere. I have been aware of this. I have received countless warnings that I will struggle without it if I go somewhere for long. Well, I ignored all the advice. I still think the attachment many have described is exaggerated. The bond between one's birthplace terroir and overall well-being is powerful. Could it be the microbiota or something more metaphysical? I still can't be sure. I took on the bet that I wouldn't implode or decay without Ethiopian food for a while and moved to Berlin a few months ago.

Not the Best Injera Rolls (2023)

It feels like ages, and I am adjusting to my new surroundings. I am relieved and fulfilled in my new habitat. I miss family and friends, but I'm not in torment over the physical distance. I keep them in my heart and stick to my mission while trying to stay in touch as much as possible. However, something has been creeping up on me and pulling certain strings in my heart lately. I feel a nudge and an aching longing for something satiating and comforting. Something savory and spicy, earthy and nutty with hints of mellow sweetness. Something with some Bèrbèré, wilted vegetables, maybe spices, and pulses. Something I can wrap in Injèra with my bare hands. Oh, good God, I'm craving Ethiopian food. And the urge is growing stronger by the day.

Injera Spread Ready for the Doro Wèt (2023)

I packed a few ingredients that I knew I wouldn't find here. But idiotically, I thought I was too good for some ingredients. So I left them behind. This mistake, right here, is an example of how we often take the wealth we already have for granted. Sure, I had a luggage weight limit, but I still disregarded what could have been rewarding resources. Well, what can you do? I thought I would learn from my mistake, thanks to the insufferable punishment of having an incomplete Ethiopian pantry. What can I do but accept my fate and continue with this gaping hole in my stomach's heart?

Simmering Doro Wèt (2023)

Then came news that made my day and cheered me up more than I expected. Someone was coming from Ethiopia who could bring me any ingredient or even cooked food I wanted. Talk about perfectly-timed blessings. I was most excited to dig into that first bite of the cooked meal. The rest of the ingredients will last longer, and so can wait. A home-cooked meal has an expiration date, and harder to come by where I am. I got the messenger's contact details. It was time to claim my prize quickly. A lot got in my way – a delayed train, pouring rain, and fleeting time. Yet I stand hungry and undeterred, sitting and waiting for over an hour in a hotel lobby. I'm almost there; the goodies are literally within arm's reach. Once the package was secured, I was on my way with a lot of weight.

A Boiled Egg in Doro Wèt (2023)

Unloading all the stuff and repackaging the ready-made food felt like unboxing presents on a Christmas night. I had a lot of ingredients sent that will last me a while. However, all focus is on the cooked food tonight. I have been hungry and salivating all day. What's on the menu? Doro wèt – the ambassador of non-vegan Ethiopian food, a festive dish I can't get tired of. I warmed up some injera and heated this unctuous chicken stew on the side. I spread the injera on a wide plate and scooped some Doro wèt on top. Imagine what loads of shallots cooked down with a fragrant spice blend tastes like. Picture this, Doro wèt is a savory, spicy chicken stew that begins with a literal potful of shallots wilted and then sauteed in Bèrbèré. This deep umami base is then watered down and simmered for hours. The chicken meat also slowly cooks together and soaks up all the flavors. The result is a potent flavor bomb that fills the room with its dominant aroma.

Doro Wèt Served With a Side of Yogurt (2023)

The intense satisfaction I felt after licking the stew off my pinkie on its own is unmatched. I ripped a piece of the injera and wrapped some Doro wèt. The first bite took me to so many places in my mind I hadn't visited in a while. It doesn't get better than this, I tell you. Memories flooded me, and I couldn't control myself. I shoved bite after bite down my throat with no remorse for my stomach. It was a heavy dish, and it was getting late. This meal was just divine, and my appreciation went through the roof. Satisfied and grateful, I sat back, unable to remember my previously gripping longing. No wonder I was missing Ethiopian food; it resolves aches like medicine.

Overhead View of Doro Wèt Served With a Side of Yogurt (2023)