Description
This Instant Pot Ethiopian Red Lentil Stew is a flavorful, hearty vegan dish made with red lentils, traditional berbere seasoning, and fresh spices. Ready in just 25 minutes, it combines the convenience of pressure cooking with authentic Ethiopian flavors, perfect served with injera or rice.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1½ tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 inch fresh ginger, finely chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 3 green onions, chopped
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp berbere seasoning (start with 1 tsp for milder taste)
- ½ tsp salt, or to taste
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- ¾ cup dried red lentils, rinsed
- 2 cups vegetable broth, divided
- 1 small handful baby spinach
- Chopped cilantro or parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Aromatics: Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Heat the vegetable oil and cook the finely chopped ginger, garlic, thinly sliced red onion, and chopped green onions for about 3 minutes, until fragrant and slightly softened.
- Add Spices and Lentils: Stir in ground cumin, berbere seasoning, salt, tomato paste, and rinsed red lentils to the pot, mixing everything together to coat the lentils with the aromatic mixture.
- Add Broth and Pressure Cook: Pour in 1½ cups of vegetable broth and scrape the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits. Seal the Instant Pot lid and set it to pressure cook on High for 6 minutes. Once cooking is complete, release the pressure following your Instant Pot’s instructions, pausing if liquid sputters from the valve to let the pot settle.
- Finish the Stew: Open the lid carefully and stir in the baby spinach along with the remaining broth until it reaches your preferred consistency. Set the pot back to Sauté mode and simmer for about 1 minute until the spinach wilts.
- Serve: Garnish the stew with chopped cilantro or parsley and serve hot, ideally with traditional Ethiopian injera or rice.
Notes
- Start with 1 tsp berbere seasoning if you prefer a milder stew and adjust to taste.
- Serve with injera (Ethiopian flatbread) or steamed rice for a complete meal.
- You can substitute vegetable broth with water in a pinch, but broth adds more depth of flavor.
- Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.