🇪🇹 Ethiopian Cuisine

Kik Alicha

Mild Yellow Split Pea Stew

Prep Time 1 hour
Servings 4
Difficulty Easy
Calories 284 kcal

A gentle, turmeric-tinted stew of yellow split peas cooked with garlic, ginger, and onions, offering a mild counterpart to spicy wats.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups yellow split peas, rinsed
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 2 tbsp olive oil or niter kibbeh
  • 4 cups water
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 jalapeño, whole (optional)

Instructions

  1. 1 Rinse yellow split peas thoroughly under cold water until the water runs clear and no foam remains.
  2. 2 Heat oil in a pot, add onions, and cook for eight minutes until softened. Add garlic, ginger, and turmeric.
  3. 3 Add split peas and water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer for forty minutes.
  4. 4 Stir occasionally and add more water if needed. The peas should break down into a smooth, thick stew.
  5. 5 Add the whole jalapeño for mild heat if desired. Season with salt and simmer five more minutes.
  6. 6 Remove jalapeño before serving. Ladle onto injera as part of a mixed platter or serve on its own.

Did You Know?

Alicha refers to any mild, non-berbere stew in Ethiopian cooking, providing essential balance to the fiery wats on the same platter.

From The Culinary Codex — http://theculinarycodex.com/dish/ethiopian/kik-alicha/