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Vegetarian, Africa and overseas

Tomato firfir with yogurt

Tomato firfir is an Ethiopian dish for 4 people, ready in 35 minutes and rated very easy. It combines torn injera with a tomato onion sauce spiced with berbere, served with plain yogurt on the side. It costs about €1.30 per person. The key is letting the sauce get thick enough to fully soak the injera.

Tonight, Ethiopia brings you firfir, torn injera mixed into a tomato onion sauce spiced with berbere, with a spoonful of yogurt.

Tomato firfir with yogurt
Total time
35 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€1.30
Calories per person
630 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Firfir pairs a spiced tomato sauce with injera, the flatbread that's already part of the dish, to make something soft and deeply flavored in a single pot. Berbere brings a warm, almost smoky heat that the slow cooked tomatoes mellow out. The result is comforting without feeling heavy, with a tender texture once the bread has soaked up all the sauce.

It's the kind of weeknight dinner you make when you want something different without spending hours in the kitchen. Kids usually go for the sweet tomato base, and a spoonful of yogurt is enough to tame the berbere heat for more sensitive palates. Mon Chou suggests this recipe for a change of pace on an ordinary evening.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Injera 8
  • Berbere spice 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Tomatoes 5
  • Onions 3
  • Garlic 3 cloves

Dairy

  • Butter 40 g
  • Plain yogurt 4

Allergens Gluten, Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Chop the onions and cook them dry in a saucepan, stirring, until they soften and break down. 12 min

    Add a spoonful of water as soon as they start to stick.

  2. Add the butter, chopped garlic, and berbere spice, and cook for one minute. 2 min

    If you don't have berbere, mix paprika, chili, cumin, and a pinch of cinnamon.

  3. Add the diced tomatoes, season with salt, and let it simmer down. 12 min

    Crush the tomatoes, the sauce should turn thick and red.

  4. Tear the injera into pieces and mix it into the hot sauce until it's fully soaked. 3 min

    If you don't have injera, torn thin pancakes work well too.

  5. Serve right away in deep plates with the yogurt on the side.

    The cool yogurt softens the heat of the berbere.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick tomatoes that are ripe or even slightly overripe, they break down faster and give the sauce a deeper flavor.
  • Taste your berbere blend before measuring it out, some brands are much stronger than others, so it's safer to adjust as you cook.
  • Serve the firfir in warmed deep plates so the sauce stays hot longer throughout the meal.

The variations

  • Swap the injera for torn thin pancakes if you can't find any, the texture stays close to the original.
  • Stir in cooked red lentils for a heartier dish with more protein.
  • For kids who are sensitive to spice, cut the berbere in half and serve extra yogurt on the side.

What to serve it with

  • An Ethiopian coffee to go with it
  • A fresh tomato and red onion salad
  • A spiced black tea

Storage

Firfir keeps for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container. Reheat it gently in a saucepan, adding a splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much. Freezing isn't recommended, the injera loses its soft texture once thawed.

Questions about this dish

Can I use something other than injera?

Yes, torn thin pancakes work well if you don't have injera on hand. The flavor shifts slightly, but the soft, sauce soaked texture stays close to the original.

Is berbere spice essential?

It gives firfir its signature character, but you can swap it for a mix of paprika, chili, cumin, and a pinch of cinnamon. The result will be a bit simpler but still tasty.

Can I make the sauce ahead of time?

Yes, the berbere tomato sauce can be made the day before and kept in the fridge. Just reheat it and mix in the injera right before serving so it stays soft.

How do I make this milder for kids?

Cut back on the berbere in the sauce and serve an extra spoonful of yogurt on the side. The cool yogurt calms the heat with every bite.

How long does it take to make a tomato firfir with yogurt?

Count 35 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in a tomato firfir with yogurt?

About 630 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 tomato firfir with yogurt cost?

About €1.30 per serving, or €5.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

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

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