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Vegetarian, Africa and overseas

Gomen with fresh cheese and injera

Gomen is an Ethiopian dish of braised collard greens with garlic, ginger, and chili, served with cold fresh cheese and injera flatbread. It serves 4, takes 45 minutes, and is an easy recipe costing €2.00 per person. The key is blanching the greens first to keep their color and soften their flavor.

Tonight, an Ethiopian dish that's all green, gomen, braised collard greens with garlic and ginger, served with fresh cheese and injera.

Gomen with fresh cheese and injera
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.00
Calories per person
660 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter
The kids
They generally like it

Gomen is collard greens simmered slowly with garlic, ginger, and a bit of chili until tender, without losing their color. Potatoes add softness to the dish, and the cold fresh cheese cools down the heat with every bite. It's a simple, deeply flavorful dish that's a nice change from the usual greens.

It's a great choice for a weeknight in fall or winter, when you want something warm and comforting without spending hours in the kitchen. Kids can enjoy it too, the chili is easy to adjust and the fresh cheese softens everything. Mon Chou loves this dish for how generous and simple it is, a real change of scenery without breaking the bank.

The ingredients

4 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • Green cabbage 1
  • Onion 1
  • Garlic 4 cloves
  • Fresh ginger 25 g
  • Green chili 1
  • Potatoes 400 g

Dairy

  • Fresh cheese, cottage cheese or faisselle 400 g

Pantry

  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Injera 8
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Lactose, Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Slice the cabbage into strips and blanch it for a few minutes in boiling salted water. 6 min

    Remove the thick tough ribs before slicing.

  2. Cook the diced potatoes in salted water. 15 min

    They add softness to the dish.

  3. Sauté the onion, garlic, ginger, and chili in the oil. 8 min

    Keep the heat low, the garlic shouldn't brown.

  4. Add the drained cabbage and the potatoes, moisten with a little water, and let it simmer. 12 min

    Press the cabbage before adding it, so the sauce stays concentrated.

  5. Warm the injera and serve the gomen with the cold fresh cheese. 5 min

    The fresh cheese cools down the chili, that's the balance you're after.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick firm collard greens with tightly packed leaves, they hold up better during cooking and keep some bite.
  • Adjust the amount of chili to your family's taste, you can remove the seeds to make it milder.
  • If the sauce is too watery at the end, let it simmer uncovered a few more minutes to reduce.

The variations

  • Swap the collard greens for kale or spinach for a quicker version, the cooking time will be shorter.
  • For a richer version, add a bit of spiced butter or turmeric while cooking the vegetables.
  • For kids who don't like heat, skip the green chili and serve the fresh cheese on the side so everyone can adjust to taste.

What to serve it with

  • Extra injera for scooping
  • Spiced black tea
  • Fresh tomato salad

Storage

Gomen keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well once cooked, without the fresh cheese or injera. Reheat it gently in a pan or microwave, and add the cold fresh cheese right before serving.

Questions about this dish

Can I use something other than injera?

Yes, flatbread like naan or a wheat pancake can replace injera. The flavor will be more neutral, but the texture for scooping up the sauce stays similar.

Can gomen be made ahead of time?

Yes, you can make it a day ahead, it actually tastes better reheated. Keep the fresh cheese separate and add it cold right before serving.

Why blanch the greens before braising them?

Blanching softens the greens slightly, keeps their bright green color, and tones down their strong smell. It's a quick step that makes a big difference to the final dish.

What fresh cheese can I use instead of cottage cheese or faisselle?

Thick plain yogurt or cold skyr work well too. What matters is that it's fresh and mild, to balance out the heat of the dish.

How long does it take to make a gomen with fresh cheese and injera?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a gomen with fresh cheese and injera?

About 660 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a gomen with fresh cheese and injera cost?

About €2.00 per serving, or €8.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains lactose, gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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