World Cup and African Cuisine
Well, along with being a big tennis fan, I also have a great love and appreciation for the “beautiful game” of football (also known as soccer). This love is at its strongest every four years when the World Cup comes round. Having grown up in Italy where football is pretty much a religion, my allegiances have always been with the boys in blue “Gli Azzurri”. Alas, while they conquered the coveted trophy four years ago, this year they were humbled by finishing bottom of their group in the first round.
Anyway, I hear many of you shout out “what has all this got to do with food and African cuisine?” Ok, ok, enough of my Azzurri ramblings. So, seeing as the World Cup final will be taking place this coming Sunday, I felt it was crucial that we put up a post on Zomppa with a quintessentially African dish.
I have the great pleasure and honor of having a wonderful friend here in Northern Ireland who is half-Italian, half-Ethiopian/Eritrean and she cooks the most divine Zighini (also known as Wot). I have known Veronica for like 20 years, and her Zighini on Injera bread is one of my most favorite dishes on the planet. She loves making this dish, and all that love sure does come out in the flavor. Beats any restaurant version I have ever tried.
I was over at Veronica’s place the other night to feast as we watched one of the World Cup matches. She went all the way and prepared all the special trimmings. For those of you not familiar with this dish, Zighini stew is served on top of the injera along with various trimmings like Shiro (a chick pea sauce), salad, and many other bits and bobs. Oh, and you eat it with your hands! It’s certainly finger-licking good food!
Zomppa’s Injera
Injera Bread
- 1 espresso sized cup to measure the teff flour
- 1-3 espresso sizes cups of sorgo (another ethiopian flour)
- 500gms of flour
- Mix in two sachets of yeast
- Mix in luke-warm water until it reaches a smooth consistency like a mix for crepes
- Leave it to ferment for 3-4 days in the fridge
- The mixture is the cooked like a crepe
Zighini
- Finely chop two large onions
- Fry onions in a butter milk based butter (if possible) and a mix of oil
- Place 4 Tbsps of berbere in the golden fried onion
- Add a glass of water till it evaporates, and repeat this three times
- Add a can of sieved tomato, a little water, and bring to the boil
- Add two pounds of lamb/ beef(cut into small pieces) or you can also use chicken or fish.
- Cook for 45 minutes
As a first for Zomppa, I thought I would also film proceedings with my new toy, the iPhone 4! So, check us out on ZomppaTV Youtube!!! We will definitely develop our filming skills as we go forward so keep an eye out. Oh and thank you, thank you Veronica for the fantastic meal!
Category: Africa, Featured Articles: Travel & Culture, Main Dish - Land and Sea, Recipe Vault, Sides, Sauces, and Breads, Travel & Culture
Showing off your IPhone 4 aside (after knowing I gave my IPhone up for my beloved Droid), this is AWESOME! Veronica – you are fabulous and thank you for sharing these recipes. Wot (or zighini) is one of my favorites and I’ve got a jar of berbere on my counter. Now I just have to try and make injera that sort of looks like yours. Kat and Veronica – you’re both way too telegenic.
This is out-of-this world AWESOME! Can’t get enough of the video AND can’t get enough of Eritrean food! And neither can my family (many of whom are themselves, Eritrean!). If only I could cook as incredibly as Veronica??? We need more lessons on video via Zomppa, Kat!? xoxoxoxoxo
What a great dish…Loved the video, sadly I could not get the sound up:)
This looks delicious and truly finger licking-good. The video was great, although I think there’s a problem with the volume.
Dear Belinda and Liz – The video is awesome and since we are over the top crazee about the world cup at our home, I am loving this post.
The injera’s remind me so very much of dosas and crepes, non?
What a great post!
Thanks for sharing. Keep the videos coming.
Ciao, Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
I’m totally jealous…and drooling! There was an Ethiopian restaurant we used to frequent in Dallas that was mind-boggling. The moment I saw the photo of the plate I gasped with exhilaration!
So glad you enjoyed the post folks! I really want to introduce video more as it is such a powerful medium. Not sure why the volume is not working for some of you as others have had no problem with it… sorry. Do keep an eye out for more ZomppaTV episodes. I will be in Sardinia for two weeks at the end of the month so will be filming lots of yummy seafood!
I love World Cup inspired dishes! This looks awesome
Loved the video….and the food looks delicious…as Devaki mentions it does look like dosa! Football and some Wot!!!! Kat, you are absolutely right – looks finger licking good!
Wonderful recipes!!!Nice video….Thanks for sharing!
This looks great! I have everything but the sorgo at home – I’ve been really wanting to try African cuisine- especially after Top Chef – fantastic video:)
oh my gosh, what a fun meal!
A really lovely dish. I like food all served on a plate. It looks a lot and brings immediate gratification…haha. I like to serve this way at home. The only problem is if I serve it this way, no one will sit at the table to eat!
I used to watch worldcup back in Korea but soccer isn’t so big in America that I don’t watch it here anymore. I can’t believe it’s almost over though.
great dishes, we love the world cup and fab video…
sweetlife
*sigh* i haven’t had Injera in years!!! And knowing I could possibly make it at home is even better! Loving the dish and the colours…. Mmmm…..
Wow! Is all I can say–wonderful connect between world cup-watching and tasty food! Great idea with the video by the way. Now all I need is an upgrade. Lol.