Veganuary Recipe
In January’s newsletter, we celebrated Veganuary with a look at why veganism aligns with Spiro’s environmental ambitions. Here's a simple recipe to create a fusion of Ethiopian Injera and Indian Chana Masala. This blend of African and Asian flavors creates a delightful vegan meal.
Ethiopian Injera:
Ingredients:
1 cup teff flour (a traditional Ethiopian grain, available at health food stores)
1½ cups water
Salt to taste
A little oil, for the skillet
Instructions:
In a large bowl, mix the teff flour with water. Cover and let the batter sit at room temperature for 1 to 3 days until it ferments. (You'll notice bubbles forming, which is perfect!)
After fermentation, stir the batter well. Add salt to taste.
Heat a non-stick skillet or crepe pan over medium heat. Lightly oil the pan.
Pour ¼ cup of batter into the center of the pan. Quickly tilt the pan in a circular motion to spread the batter into a thin, round crepe.
Cook until the edges lift from the pan, and bubbles form in the center, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Remove the Injera and let it cool. Repeat with the remaining batter.
Indian Chana Masala:
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chickpeas (or canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed)
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 tomatoes, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-inch ginger, minced
1 green chili, finely chopped (optional, for heat)
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp garam masala
½ tsp red chili powder (adjust to taste)
Salt to taste
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
1 cup water
Instructions:
Heat oil in a pan. Add onions, ginger, garlic, and green chili. Sauté until the onions are golden brown.
Add the chopped tomatoes, cumin, coriander, turmeric, red chili powder, and salt. Cook until the tomatoes are soft and the oil separates.
Add the cooked chickpeas and water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes until the gravy thickens.
Stir in garam masala and cook for another minute.
Garnish with chopped cilantro.
Serving:
Serve the warm Chana Masala over a piece of Injera. Use the Injera to scoop up the Chana Masala, and enjoy!
This dish is a beautiful representation of a vegan diet, merging the unique tastes of African and Indian cuisines. Enjoy your culinary adventure!