Ethiopian/West African · Dinner

Shiro Wat

Draft recipe — not kitchen-tested
VegEasy

Diet: Veg · Vegan · High-protein

Shiro Wat is a Ethiopian/West African dish. Add shiro as a smooth slurry to avoid lumps.

Prep
15 min
Cook
30 min
Total
45 min
Servings
4
Difficulty
Easy
Cuisine
Ethiopian/West African
Course
Dinner

Estimated times for the original batch. Preparation, cooking and listed waiting time are included. Batch cooking can take longer.

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Representative photograph of Shiro Wat.
Representative photograph of Shiro Wat. Garnishes and presentation may differ. This is not a tested result of this draft. Photo credit and licence
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Ingredients

Metric weights use grams. US weights use ounces; liquids use fluid ounces. Conversions are rounded. Spoon measures use 5 ml teaspoons and 15 ml tablespoons; cups use 240 ml.

Serves 4

Choose any positive whole number of servings. Ingredients and measured amounts in steps scale together. Times, temperatures and equipment stay unchanged. For larger yields, cook separate original-size batches. Counted ingredients can become fractions; beat eggs before dividing them. Fixed correction-water checks remain fixed.

Base

Shiro

Equipment

Kitchen scales; measuring jug and spoons; knife; cutting board; mixing bowls; saucepan with lid; sieve; whisk or electric mixer; heatproof spoon; spatula.

Check all product labels and cross-contact. Diet groups describe this listed draft, not every substitution.

Steps

Base · About 10 min

  1. Cook 40 ml neutral oil, 200 g onion, finely chopped, 15 g garlic, grated, 200 g tomatoes, chopped, 15 g berbere in its oil 10 minutes until onions soften.

    Check: Look for this result: onions soften.

Thicken · About 5 min

  1. Whisk shiro powder from 180 g shiro powder, 800 ml water, ¾ tsp salt into its water until smooth; add to pot with salt.

    Check: Look for this result: smooth; add to pot with salt.

Simmer · About 20 min

  1. Cook over low heat 15–20 minutes, stirring often, until thick and cooked through.

    Check: Look for this result: thick and cooked through.

Tips

  • Add shiro as a smooth slurry to avoid lumps.
  • Use the texture and doneness checks in the method; cooking times depend on your pan and heat.

Substitutions

  • Use roasted chickpea flour with extra seasoning as an adaptation.

Storage

  • Refrigerate perishable food within two hours, or within one hour in heat above 32°C / 90°F. Store covered at 4°C / 40°F or below. Use within two days for this draft.
  • Reheat cooked dishes to 74°C / 165°F, stirring or turning for even heating. Serve cold salads, dips and chilled desserts directly from safe refrigeration.
  • For sauces and soups, add a little water if thick and reheat gently. Crisp coatings soften after storage.

Make ahead

  • Prepare the measured ingredients for Shiro Wat one day ahead. Refrigerate chopped vegetables and other perishable ingredients separately; complete the staged cooking on the serving day.

FAQ

What matters most when making Shiro Wat?

Add shiro as a smooth slurry to avoid lumps.

What can I substitute in Shiro Wat?

Use roasted chickpea flour with extra seasoning as an adaptation.

Can I prepare Shiro Wat ahead?

Prepare the measured ingredients for Shiro Wat one day ahead. Refrigerate chopped vegetables and other perishable ingredients separately; complete the staged cooking on the serving day.

Food safety references

FoodSafety.gov: cooking temperatures · Food Standards Agency: rice storage and reheating