An authentic Injera recipe, the famous Ethiopian flatbread that makes the perfect accompaniment to a whole host of Ethiopian dishes, including Doro Wat, Sega Wat, Misir Wat, and Gomen!
If you’ve ever been to an Ethiopian restaurant – certainly if you’ve ever set foot in Ethiopia – you will have heard of injera. Â It’s a sourdough flatbread unlike any other sourdough. Â It starts out looking like a crepe but then develops a unique porous and slightly spongy texture. Â The thin batter is poured onto the cooking surface, traditionally a clay plate over a fire though now more commonly a specialized electric injera stove, and the bottom remains smooth while the top develops lots of pores which makes it ideal for scooping up stews and sauces.
And that’s exactly how injera is used, as an eating utensil. Â And as a plate. Â And often in place of the tablecloth. Â A variety of stews, vegetables and/or salads are placed on a large piece of injera and guests use their right hands to tear portions of the injera which are used for gripping the food. Â The porous texture of the injera makes it ideal for soaking up the juices.
Injera is traditionally made out of teff flour, the world’s tiniest grain and also one of the earliest domesticated plants having originated in Ethiopia and Eritrea (where injera is also widely consumed) between 4000 and 1000 BC. Â Its production is limited to only areas with adequate rainfall though so it’s relatively expensive for most African households. Â As such, many will replace some of the teff content with other flours like barley or wheat. Â For those who can afford it, injera made entirely of teff flour has the higher demand.
Injera is the traditional accompaniment to Doro Wat, Ethiopia’s famous spicy chicken stew, and together these constitute the national dish of Ethiopia.
Injera is likewise served with Sega Wat, the delicious beef version of Doro Wat.
There are different varieties of teff ranging from white/ivory to red to dark brown. Â In Ethiopia white is generally preferred and will also produce a 100% teff injera that is a lighter in color than what is shown in the first photo and preparation photos. Â I’m using 100% dark teff flour which produces a very dark injera with a deeper flavor.
The challenge is that if you’re looking for a specific type of teff and like to grind your own grains, most manufacturers don’t differentiate the teff type on their package labeling.  It’s mostly an aesthetic preference though and for most baking I do with teff it really doesn’t matter either way.  With the injera it will make a difference in the color though if that’s an important factor to you.
I have found only one brand that differentiates the types: Â Ivory Teff and Brown Teff. Â Maskal also makes an ivory teff flour.
Traditionally a clay plate, a mitad, placed over a fire is used for making injera.
A special woven basket, called a mesab, in which the freshly made injera are placed.
More commonly now specialized electric injera stoves are used. Â The most popular one in the U.S. is called the Heritage Grill. Â But unless you’re making injera constantly, a simple non-stick pan on the stovetop will do the job.
Read to make some injera?
And I don’t mean short-cut, one-day, cutting corners injera. Â I mean the real deal, authentic injera.
Authentic Injera Recipe
Let’s get started!
***IMPORTANT NOTE before we begin: Both the texture and color of the injera will vary greatly depending on what kind of teff you use (dark or ivory) and whether or not you’re combining it with other flours. Gluten-based flours (e.g. wheat and barley) will yield a much different texture than 100% teff. In the pictures and recipe below I’m using 100% dark teff, something you will not find in restaurants and will look different than what most are accustomed to, but is traditional to Ethiopian home cooking.
You can buy pre-ground teff flour or grind your own. Â I like to grind my own grains because 1) the flour has far more nutrition because it’s fresher and the oils haven’t oxidized and 2) I have more control over the texture of the flour.
I use and LOVE the German-made KoMo Classic Grain Mill. Â It comes with a 15-year warranty. Â It’s a stone-grinding mill and you can grind grains as finely or as coarsely as you like. Â It’s an awesome piece of machinery and it’s just downright gorgeous!
You’ll need 2 cups of flour. Â I’m using all teff flour, and mine happens to be dark teff flour which will produce a very dark injera with a deeper flavor.
As mentioned above, using 100% teff flour is traditionally considered the most desirable (it also happens to be naturally gluten-free), but you can substitute part of it with other flours such as wheat or barley.
However, if you’re new to making injera I recommend substituting a portion of teff with barley or wheat flour as 100% is more challenging to work with.
Stir in 3 cups of distilled water (and the yeast if you’re using it).
I made two versions to show you the difference – both are identical but in one of them I added some commercial yeast (left) and the other one I didn’t (right). Â What that does is prevent the formation of wild yeast because the commercial, store-bought yeast dominates.
Loosely cover the bowls with plastic wrap so that air can still get in (but no critters can) – cheesecloth is also a great option. Â Let it sit undisturbed at room temperature for 5 days. Â You don’t have to let it ferment that long but at least 4 days is ideal and longer it ferments the deeper the flavor will be.
Note: Depending on what kind of flour you’re using, you may need to add a little more water if the mixture is becoming dry.
After 4-5 days both versions will be fizzy when you jiggle the bowl.
Notice the difference between the mixture prepared with commercial yeast (left) and the wild yeast mixture (right).  The version made the traditional way allowing wild yeast to form is not only much darker in color, it has a film of aerobic yeast on top that you may initially think is mold but it isn’t. If your batter forms actual mold on it it will need to be discarded.
It looks disgusting, I know – like why would I eat this?  But rest assured it’s perfectly normal.  That isn’t mold, it’s aerobic yeast caused by the fermentation process. Going the traditional route of relying on wild yeast – a naturally fermented product – over commercial yeast results in an injera with a richer and more complex flavor.  It’s the way injera has been made and enjoyed for centuries. Again though, if your batter forms actual mold on it, it will need to be discarded.
We’re simply going to discard this top layer and use what’s underneath.
Pour off the top layer and as much of the liquid as you can.
You’ll be left with a clay-like batter. Â Give it a good stir.
Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Â Scoop 1/2 cup of the fermented teff batter and stir it into the boiling water until the mixture is thickened. Â This will happen pretty quickly.
Stir the cooked/thickened batter back into the original mixture.
Add some water to the batter to create roughly the consistency of crepe batter. Â I added about 2/3 cup of water though this will vary from batch to batch. Â The batter will have a sweet-soured nutty smell.
Heat a non-stick pan on medium. Â Depending on how good your non-stick surface is, you may need to very lightly spray it with some oil.
Coat the surface of the pan with a thin layer of injera batter. Â It should be thicker than making a crepe but not as thick as a pancake.
Continue to cook – bubbles will form, allow them to pop. Â Then cover the pan with a lid and turn off the heat to let it steam cook for a couple more minutes or so until cooked through. Â Be careful though, if you the injera cooks too long it will become gummy and soggy.
Remove the injera and repeat.
Enjoy!
Serve your homemade injera with our authentic Ethiopian:
Authentic Injera (Ethiopian Flatbread)
Ingredients
- 2 cups teff flour, brown or ivory , or substitute a portion of it with some barley or wheat flour
- Note: If you're new to making injera I recommend using a combination of teff and barley or wheat as 100% teff is more challenging to work with.
- 3 cups distilled water (fluoride and chlorine will both interfere with the fermentation process)
- Note: This method involves wild yeast fermentation. See blog post for details about using commercial yeast as a starter (you'll use about 1/4 teaspoon dry active yeast)
Instructions
- *See blog post for detailed instructions*NOTE: Using mostly or all teff (which is the traditional Ethiopian way) will NOT produce the spongy, fluffy injera served in most restaurants which are adapted to the western palate and use mostly wheat, sometimes a little barley, and occasionally a little teff added in.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and water (and yeast if you're using it). Loosely place some plastic wrap on the bowl (it needs some air circulation, you just want to keep any critters out) and let the mixture sit undisturbed at room temperature for 4-5 days (the longer it ferments, the deeper the flavor). (Depending on what kind of flour you're using, you may need to add a little more water if the mixture is becoming dry.) The mixture will be fizzy, the color will be very dark and, depending on the humidity, a layer of aerobic yeast will have formed on the top. (Aerobic yeast is a normal result of fermentation. If however your batter forms mold on it, it will need to be discarded.) Pour off the aerobic yeast and as much of the liquid as possible. A clay-like batter will remain. Give it a good stir.
- In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Stir in 1/2 cup of the injera batter, whisking constantly until it is thickened. This will happen pretty quickly. Then stir the cooked/thickened batter back into the original fermented batter. Add some water to the batter to thin it out to the consistency of crepe batter. I added about 2/3 cup water but this will vary from batch to batch. The batter will have a sweet-soured nutty smell.
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Depending on how good your non-stick pan is, you may need to very lightly spray it with some oil. Spread the bottom of the skillet with the injera batter - not as thin as crepes but not as thick as traditional pancakes. Allow the injera to bubble and let the bubbles pop. Once the bubbles have popped, place a lid on top of the pan and turn off the heat. Let the injera steam cook for a couple or so more minutes until cooked through. Be careful not to overcook the injera or they will become gummy and soggy. Remove the injera with a spatula and repeat.
- IMPORTANT NOTE: Both the texture and color of the injera will vary greatly depending on what kind of teff you use (dark or ivory) and whether or not you're combining it with other flours. Gluten-based flours (e.g. wheat and barley) will yield a much different texture than 100% teff. In the pictures and recipe below I'm using 100% dark teff, something you will not find in restaurants and will look different than what most are accustomed to, but is traditional to Ethiopian home cooking. Make your injera according to what you prefer.
Nutrition
Images of serving platter and woman cooking courtesy Maurice Chédel and Rob Waddington via CC licensing
MV says
Hi Kimberly, my first batch turned out very nicely. I did a lot of research, in particular looking up what Sandor Katz, the fermentation guru, says about injera. I’ve followed lots of his recipes which are authentic and always simple and traditional.
As I read through these comments, something I wonder about is if people with problems might be using chlorinated water. Chlorine is terrible for all lactobacteria, and I use both a reverse osmosis filter and let my water for anything fermented sit overnight. I’ve never had a problem with any ferments of any kind. Also for pickles, etc, I make sure not to use salt with iodine or prussiate of soda. Just good sea-salt.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks for sharing those insights, MV. We’re on well water, so no chlorine, and you may be right about the chlorination having some impact.
Andrea Pilati says
Thanks! We’re on well water too, so this is a great tip.
Raychel Gonzales says
Hi! I’m trying your recipe; mixed the water in on Sun and plan on making bread on Friday. I have one question – is it bad if I covered the dough with a towel instead of plastic wrap?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Raychel, I also recommend cheesecloth as an option so a towel is perfectly fine. As long as it’s breathable but the holes are small enough to keep critters out, it’s perfect.
Raychel Gonzales says
Whoo-hoo!!! Thank you!
B-wren says
We’re trying this recipe for the first time. Do you have any additional suggestions for sides to go with it? Thanks for the great blog!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi B-wren, if you’re making doro wat to go with it, some traditional sides would include misir wot (Ethiopian lentils), shiro wat (Ethiopian chickpeas), and ye’abesha gomen/gomen wat (spiced collard greens). You can easily find recipes for all of these online.
Natasha says
Hi! I appreciate your recipe, but I don’t think the injera in the photo looks right. I also make it with 100% dark teff flour, but the appearance is very different, more like the restaurant photo, but darker and smaller, since I make them just for me to eat. I just add a tiny pinch of yeast the first time, pulse it in the blender for a less grainy texture with the water, and let it sit a few days till extremely bubbly. Then you can make injera and save a little batter to repeat the process but without the added yeast.Let it sit out overnight, then you can refrigerate the batter and use it over a couple of days. Refrigeration actually supports the balance of bacteria. (This is why refrigerated bread dough has more flavor) After a few times it will acquire the sourdough flavor. I don’t get mold on top. The important thing I wanted tom share(since I was making it everyday for a few months at one point) is that is possible for it to go bad if the organisms get out of whack. Good batter will have a cool, cucumber smell (though maybe not the first tie you make it, but it will soon start to smell like it is giving off some alcohol and will not have a rotten or putrid smell. If it smells too bad to eat, keep feeding the batter or throw it out and start again until you have something good. I suggesting starting out with just one cup of teff so you don;t waste money and just make sa little s you are learning. I don’t think it is worth boiling some of the dough, as it comes out better without.
Suz says
I see my lefse griddle will get some more love
Maria says
Hi, my wild yeast injera is 3 days old and has a spot that looks kinda like your aerobic yeast activity- but it’s only in one spot, just as mold was described on this discussion. Is this how the spots began? Did they begin in on spot or did they appear simultaneously ?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Maria, it will develop gradually, give it some more time.
Kate Shchyelkunova says
Is it suppose to be bitter? I used dark teff flour and taste and texture were way off. There was a strong bitter aftertaste to it so I had to throw it away :(
Anonymous says
My husband is ethiopian, and we have a full Ethiopian family who are first generation to America. I are Poland u for your effort, but the outcome of your injera is not what it is supposed to look like. I know injera because I make it myself and learned from Ethiopian women. I’m sorry, please keep trying.
Anonymous says
Or Anonymous might get some tips from her relatives to share
B says
I am on day 3 and there is no liquid on top. It smells yeasty. But it looks like cracked ground. Any suggestions?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi B, somehow either too little liquid or too much flour was added. I’m not sure it can be rescued at this point but you can try adding more water.
B says
I added more water now and it became fizzy like soda. The top layer that looked like cracked ground is now floating on top so I will be able to just pour it off. Hopefully it turns out OK. Thanks!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi B, it sounds like it’s beyond hope I’m afraid and I would discard it. It’s turned hard and I don’t think it’s going to be usable. The other thing is that the only way for the grain to be safe throughout the fermentation process is to remain completely under water, otherwise unwanted bacteria will form.
Carmen says
Hi Kimberley, how long will the raw batter last?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Carmen, as a fermented batter it will last a while and will get stronger (flavor and smell) each day. Just keep an eye open for actual mold.
Susan Holland says
How can I tell between the stuff that looks like mold and what is ACTUAL mold?
Rachel says
Hi Kim, I tried this receipe and everything seemed to turn out alright expect Im curious to know how long roughly you cook each injera? And do you flip it? I was flipping at first than stopped as i read the recipe wrong. Overall great recipe…thank you for sharing!!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Rachel, I’m glad you enjoyed it! The time totally depends on how thick you pour in the batter/the circumference of the pan, and the heat. It’s really just a matter of keeping an eye on it to determine when it’s done. And for injera, no, they’re traditionally not flipped as that will disrupt the honeycomb effect.
LL says
Hi there! I’m curious if there’s a way to cook more than 1 injera at a time? I mean, I could obviously have more than 1 skillet going at the same time, but is there a way to cook all of or more of the batter at once.. like in the oven? For pancakes, I’m able to use a large rectangular griddle that sits over 2 burners, to cook 6 pancakes at the same time.. but if injera needs to be covered, then that wouldn’t work.. it might also run off the edges. Any suggestions? Thank you!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi LL, there’s no reason you can’t except for the issue you mentioned – it may run off the sides without being in a contained pan.
Shak says
OK so i did all of this including smell it on a daily basis and boy did it stink!! I was on the verge of throwing it out but decided to persevere after reading the comments here.
So finally on day 4 it looked like the picture here and smelled like fernented stuff does ie not as horrendous as it did before!
The real trouble for me was cooking it!!!! That just drove me INSANE!!!! It took AGES to cook through thoroughly for me and i found with the steaming it didn’t cook thoroughly at all.
So impatient me just left it in the pot until the edges raised and it was ages before i could turn them over to make sure the other side was cooked. It came out as crispy injera which i know is not how it was supposed to be.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Shak, sorry this was such an aggravating experience. It sounds like either too much batter was added/it was too thick (so it took longer to cook through) or you need to turn the temperature up a bit higher.
Keda says
Hi, thank you for this awesome guide. My partner uses some of his own sourdough culture as a starter. It works very well. How come you pre-cook some mixture and put in back in? Is that how it is done in Ethiopia and/or Eritrea as well? Thanks so much.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks for the feedback, Keda. Yes, that’s how it’s traditionally done for the purpose of thickening the batter which impacts the texture of the final product.
Romeo says
After making that teff flour n water mixture, did you start making your own sourdough starter, babysit it n save it for future bread making? 😊
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I haven’t yet, but need to! :)