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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Berbere-Spiced Red Lentils

4 to 6 Servings

30 minutes

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This lentil stew is our spin on the Ethiopian dish called misir wat. It’s seasoned with berbere, a rich, complex, aromatic Ethiopian blend of warm spices, savory dried alliums and red chilies. Look for berbere in spice shops or in well-stocked grocery stores. We garnish the lentils with a mix of chopped tomatoes, jalapeño and grated ginger, a non-traditional touch that brings bright flavor and color to the dish. If you can get the Ethiopian flatbread called injera, serve some alongside, though warm naan and/or rice are also excellent accompaniments.

4 to 6

Servings

Tip

Don’t forget to stir the lentils often to prevent scorching, especially near the end of cooking, when the consistency becomes thicker.

30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4

    tablespoons ghee or salted butter, divided

  • 1

    large yellow onion, chopped

Directions

Reviews
JENNIFER B.
April 21, 2026
great lentils
i appreciated the berbere spice, something new. we mostly ate this as a soup.
LESLIE B.
December 6, 2025
Delicious - tastes that are unique
Easy to make and delicious. Loved the flavors.
EMILY D.
October 2, 2025
Family favorite
Easy, quick dinner with a lot of flavor. My kids (teens) request this one.
Lucinda K.
February 15, 2023
Excellent!
Brought to a potluck and it was a hit!
JUSTIN J.
December 20, 2022
Exceptional
Wow this blew my socks off. The lentils are rich and warming, the spices lending to a euphoric heat that made me close my eyes and smile.

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