In Israel, there is a large Ethiopian Jewish community, but the majority of Israelis are not familiar with their unique cuisine. I, however, have always felt super connected with Ethiopian culture, partly because I had Ethiopian girlfriends when I was young, and partly because it reminds me of my Yemenite father’s culture. The fragrance of this dish, the fenugreek in particular, transports me back to my childhood home. In an Ethiopian kitchen, this dish would be served with injera, a famous Ethiopian spongy flatbread that’s perfect for mopping up sauce. But you can substitute with Yemenite lachuch, which is quite similar and very delicious.
Excerpted from Shuk by Einat Admony & Janna Gur (Artisan Books). Copyright © 2019
Doro Wot – Ethiopian Chicken
Servings
6 Servings
Ingredients
- 6 bone-in skin-on chicken legs, separated into thighs and drumsticks
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt plus more as needed
- ¼ cup canola oil
- 2 large onions finely diced or chopped
- 3 garlic cloves smashed
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground fenugreek seed or leaf
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper plus more as needed
- 6 hard-boiled eggs peeled
- 2¼ cups 500 ml homemade or low-sodium store-bought chicken stock or water
- Lachuch for serving
Instructions
- Rub the chicken with the lemon juice and 1 tablespoon salt and let it sit for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat the oil in a heavy-based wide skillet or Dutch oven (large enough to hold the chicken in one snug layer) over medium heat, add the onions and the remaining tablespoon salt, and sauté gently until fragrant, golden brown, and sweet, about 20 minutes. Do not let the onions actually brown.
- Add the garlic, cumin, ginger, cardamom, turmeric, paprika, fenugreek, and pepper and stir for a minute so the spices bloom in the oil. Nestle the chicken pieces and the eggs into the pan and pour in the broth.
- Cover the pan and adjust the heat to a solid simmer. Cook for about 30 minutes. Then remove the lid (so the sauce will reduce and thicken a bit) and continue to simmer until the chicken is very tender when poked with a knife and the juices run clear (or until the thickest part of the thigh or drumstick reaches 165°F/74°C on an instant-read thermometer), 45 to 60 minutes.
- Taste and adjust with more salt or pepper. Serve with lachuch to mop up the delicious sauce.
Canola oil isn’t good for you actually so I used olive oil as well and it turned out great.
I’m in the process of making Doro Wot right now…I absolutely love the spices!! Doing the Dabo bread as well. For a well rounded nod to carbs, southerners like myself have rice with “stews” but it will be on the side as an option. Looking for to this Shabbat meal indeed!
It should be fine, in some of these ethnic recipes they don’t want the flavor of olive oil to overpower, but otherwise it is fine
This looks delicious! Can I use olive oil instead of canola?