Azifa

The story

Azifa is a Ethiopian starter with a clear sense of place. Azifa is a simple Ethiopian lentil salad, often built around green lentils and a mustard-lemon dressing. It belongs comfortably on fasting and vegetable-heavy tables. The recipe below keeps the defining ingredients and technique intact while giving practical metric quantities and enough detail for a home cook to judge texture, seasoning and doneness rather than simply follow a timer.

Ingredients

• 250 g green lentils
• 100 g red onionvery finely diced
• 1 piece green chillifinely chopped
• 20 g Dijon mustard
• 45 ml lemon juice
• 35 ml olive oil
• 25 g fresh corianderchopped
• 150 g tomatodiced
• 1 tsp fine salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper

Method

1. Rinse the lentils and simmer in plenty

   Rinse the lentils and simmer in plenty of water until tender but still intact, usually 18–22 minutes. Drain well and spread on a tray for 10 minutes so surface moisture evaporates.

   Look for: tender but still intact, usually 18–22 minutes Tip: Dress the lentils while warm, but add fresh vegetables only after cooling. Avoid: Overcooked lentils turn pasty, while adding tomato too early can make the salad watery.

2. Whisk mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, salt

   Whisk mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and black pepper in a mixing bowl. Taste the dressing before adding lentils; it should be deliberately sharp.

3. Add the still slightly warm lentils and

   Add the still slightly warm lentils and fold through the dressing. Warm lentils absorb flavour more effectively than fridge-cold ones.

4. When completely cool, add red onion, chilli,

   When completely cool, add red onion, chilli, coriander and tomato. Fold gently so the lentils do not break into a paste.

5. Rest 15 minutes, then taste again for

   Rest 15 minutes, then taste again for lemon and salt; lentils often mute acidity as they sit.

6. Serve cool or at room temperature with

   Serve cool or at room temperature with injera, keeping the salad fresh and loose rather than compressed.

   Look for: Lentils are tender through the centre but still hold individual shape and the dressing lightly coats without pooling.

Nutrition

per serving

Estimated from the listed ingredients and default serving size. Actual values vary with brands, trimming, absorption and cooking losses.