Ethiopian Alicha Kik Wot Recipe (Split Pea Stew)

Ingredients:

– 2 cups split yellow peas

– 1 large onion, finely chopped

– 3 cloves of garlic, minced

– 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

– 1 teaspoon turmeric powder

– 2 cups water (you can replace water with vegetable broth)

– Salt, to taste

– Jalapeno (Fresh cilantro optional) for garnish

Instructions:

1. Rinse the split peas under cold water and remove any debris. Soak the peas in water for at least 2 hours or overnight. Drain and set aside.

2. In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic and sauté until the onion is translucent and fragrant.

3. Add the berbere spice blend and turmeric powder to the pot and stir well to coat the onions and garlic.

4. Add the soaked split peas to the pot and stir to combine with the spices and onions.

5. Pour in the vegetable broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the split peas are tender and cooked through. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

6. Once the split peas are cooked, use a wooden spoon or potato masher to mash some of the peas, creating a thick and creamy consistency. You can adjust the thickness by adding more vegetable broth if desired.

7. Season with salt to taste and simmer for an additional 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

8. Serve the Alicia Kik hot, garnished with fresh cilantro. It is traditionally enjoyed with injera (Ethiopian flatbread) or rice.

Side note: For this recipe, I cooked my yellow split peas using the instant cook function on my pressure cooker for 5-7 minutes. This significantly reduces the cooking time since yellow split peas usually take a long time to cook. In my case, I used organic split peas, which require an even longer cooking time. If you have an instant pot, you can also use the instant cook function to start and finish this recipe. Stay tuned for a separate blog post on making Instant Pot Alicha Kik

Enjoy your delicious Ethiopian Alicha Kik!