Fir-Fir (Ethiopian Shredded Injera in Spiced Sauce)
Local name: ፍርፍር
In short: Torn injera tossed in a spiced butter and berbere sauce until soft and coated, a quick Ethiopian breakfast that uses up leftover bread. It takes about 30 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 30 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 240 kcal
Fir-fir is a breakfast dish made from shredded injera tossed in a spicy, buttery berbere sauce until every piece is soft and coated. It is a practical way to use up yesterday's injera, and it is also made fresh for its own sake across Ethiopia. The sauce is simple, with onion, garlic, niter kibbeh and berbere, and the dish is ready in about 30 minutes. Serve it with yogurt or a fried egg for a filling start to the day.
Instructions
- Put the onion in a wide skillet over medium heat with no oil and cook for 5 minutes, stirring, until soft.
- Add the niter kibbeh and oil, then the garlic and ginger, and cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in the berbere and tomato paste and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, adding a splash of water, until the sauce is thick and deep red.
- Pour in the water and salt and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add the torn injera, the tomato and the jalapeño if using. Toss over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, until the injera has softened and is coated in sauce. Add a splash of water if it looks dry.
- Serve warm in a mound, topped with a fried egg or a spoonful of yogurt.
Tips
- Day-old injera works best because it holds together. If yours is very fresh and soft, leave it out to dry for an hour before tearing.
- Leftover doro wat or misir wat sauce can replace the berbere sauce. Just warm it in the pan and toss the injera through it.
Questions and answers
What is fir-fir?
Fir-fir is torn injera cooked in a spiced sauce, most often for breakfast. It is a way to use up leftover bread.
Can I make fir-fir without injera?
Torn flatbread or toasted pita works as a stand-in. The texture will be different, but it still soaks up the sauce well.
Can I make fir-fir vegan?
Yes. Use vegetable oil instead of niter kibbeh and serve it without eggs or yogurt. Check that the injera has no dairy or egg in it.
How long does it take to make Fir-Fir (Ethiopian Shredded Injera in Spiced Sauce)?
About 30 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Fir-Fir (Ethiopian Shredded Injera in Spiced Sauce)?
About 240 kcal per serving, with 6 g of protein, 31 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 240 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 31 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 400 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
