Best Eritrean Food and Drink & Kilwa Food

Did you come to this post looking for the best Eritrean food & drink? If so, you are in the right place. Let’s start with an Eritrean dish called Kulwha.

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Kulwha (Eritrean Food/Eritrean Foods/Foods of Eritrea/Eritrean Traditional Mat)

Kulwha is similar to east Asian stir-fries. 

Typically, Kulwha is prepared by melting tesmi, an Eritrean spiced clarified butter (this is sometimes modified with oil), in a pan and sautéing chopped onions, garlic, tomato, and berbere.

The meat of choice is then added and cooked through.

The flavors are allowed to briefly meld and then the meal is presented, without pretense, atop taita/injera.

In the Eritrean highlands, the meats of choice are typically beef, chicken and lamb.

In the eastern lowlands of Eritrea, particularly in the cities of Massawa and Asseb, fresh fish is common.

In more cosmopolitan areas (both in and outside Eritrea) some Eritreans have substituted mushrooms for the meat, which yields a similar meaty texture.

To give you a clearer picture of what kulwha is, here is a video showing it being prepared.

Ok, so now how about a recipe for kulwha?

Best Eritrean Food: Kulwha Recipe with Lamb (Eritrea Food)

As you saw in the video above, you need to use an Eritrean spiced ghee called nit’r kibbeh to make kulwha. 

Making proper nit’r kibbeh requires spices found in Ethiopia & Eritrea that may be hard to find elsewhere.

Here’s a recipe for a nit’r kibbeh substitute that works well enough.

Nit’r Kibbeh (Spiced Ghee) Substitute

Ingredients
500 g unsalted butter
½ tsp ground cardamom
½ tsp ground fenugreek
½ tsp nigella seeds, ground

Directions

1. Heat butter in a small saucepan over low–medium heat until it has begun to simmer gently.
2. Simmer for about 30 minutes, skimming the foam off the surface until the top layer of butter is completely clear.
3. Carefully strain the butter through a fine sieve over a bowl, leaving the milk solids in the bottom of the pan.
4. Stir the spices into the clarified butter.
5. Allow to cool then transfer to an airtight container.

This recipe makes more nit’r kibbeh than you need, but it can be refrigerated for up to 3 months and used in other recipes as you would ghee.

Kulwha Recipe

Serves 4

Ingredients
1 tbsp nit’r kibbeh
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, sliced
1 long green chili, chopped
2 tomatoes, diced
500 g lamb fillet, diced into small cubes
a pinch of salt
1 tbsp berbere*

Directions

1. Put 1 tablespoon of nit’r kibbeh, oil, onion, chili, half the tomato, the lamb and salt into a large frying pan and place over high heat.

2. Stir-fry until the meat is cooked through (about 3 minutes).

3. Add berbere and the remaining tomato and cook for another 1 minute.

Serve with injera (an Ethiopian/Eritrean unleavened pancake-like bread made from teff flour) or steamed rice.

Eritrean Food Near Me: Massawa Bar and Restaurant Mombasa

Massawa Bar and Restaurant in Mombasa is located along Airport Road. It serves Eritrean and Ethiopian dishes as well as continental food, pizzas and local Kenyan grills.

Food of Eritrea

Eritrean cuisine is a delightful fusion of flavors influenced by its diverse cultural heritage, which includes elements from the country’s indigenous tribes, as well as Turkish, Italian, and other Middle Eastern cuisines.

Here are some highlights:

1. Injera: This spongy, sourdough flatbread made from teff flour is a staple of Eritrean cuisine. It serves as a base for many dishes and is used to scoop up stews and vegetables. Injera is not only a food but also an integral part of Eritrean dining culture, often served with communal dishes.
2. Zigni: A spicy stew made with beef, tomatoes, onions, and a blend of spices including berbere, a fiery chili powder essential to Eritrean and Ethiopian cuisine. Zigni is typically served with injera.
3. Tsebhi: This refers to a variety of meat or vegetable stews, usually served with injera as well. Tsebhi can include ingredients like chicken, lamb, lentils, or spinach, cooked with onions, garlic, and spices.
4. Ful Medames: A popular breakfast dish made from mashed fava beans seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. It’s often served with boiled eggs, tomatoes, onions, and sometimes a sprinkle of chili powder.
5. Berenjena Begheganat: Fried eggplant slices topped with a spicy tomato sauce. It’s a flavorful appetizer or side dish commonly enjoyed in Eritrea.
6. Fitfit: A refreshing salad made from torn pieces of injera mixed with tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, and a tangy dressing typically made from lemon juice and olive oil.
7. Coffee: Eritrea has a rich coffee culture, and traditional coffee ceremonies are an important part of social gatherings. Coffee beans are roasted, ground, and brewed in a traditional clay pot called a jebena. The coffee is served strong and black, often accompanied by popcorn or other snacks.

Eritrean cuisine reflects the country’s history, geography, and cultural diversity, offering a unique culinary experience with bold flavors and vibrant colors.

Top Eritrean Food and Drink Tours

If you will be visiting Eritrea soon and are wondering what some of the best food  & drink tours there are, then browse a selection of those here.

Kilwa Food: What Did People Used to Eat In the Kilwa Sultanate?

Farming was difficult on the island of Kilwa because the red soil and sand were unsuitable for growing crops.

People had to rely on other sources of food.

An important source of Kilwa food was wild fruit that grew from trees on the island.

The poorer inhabitants of Kilwa, in particular, survived mainly on fruits such as coconuts, bananas, oranges, and lemons.

Honey from beehives was also popular.

Millet, rice, and sorghum were grown where farming was possible.

Shellfish was an important item on people’s diet.

Other sources of protein included meat from sheep, cattle, goats, and hens.

In their homes, Kilwans baked bread in ovens on the floor and used portable stoves to cook meat.

They also used well water to grow radishes, peas, small onions, and basil in small gardens.

Trade with coastal fishermen supplied Kilwa residents with fish and other food products from Asia and other parts of Africa.

READ ALSO: Where is Kilwa Located & More on Visiting Kilwa

Eritrea Restaurant

I have been able to find Eritrean restaurants in most of the cities that I have lived in, but if you are unable to find one where you live, you’ll surely find an Ethiopian restaurant: the food is quite similar.

Photo Credits: hade1hade