Misir wat
ምስር ወጥ
Red lentils in berbere — the fasting pot that is also Tuesday dinner.
Recipe by I Want Some Food · Reviewed by the editorial kitchen. Native name preserved: ምስር ወጥ.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Rest
- None
- Total
- 55 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Spice
- Hot
- Cost
- Cheap nightUnder $8 USD · indicative, not a store price
About
Misir wat is split red lentils cooked in the same onion-berbere logic as doro, without the chicken. It should be thick enough to sit on injera, not a soup. Oil or niter depending on whether the house is fasting.
What you'll need
9 ingredients. Tap each one once it's out on the bench.
Ingredients
Scaling multiplies the written quantities. Baking still prefers a scale.
Steps
Step 1
Cook onion in oil until soft and sweet, 12 minutes. Berbere, garlic, ginger, optional tomato.
15 min
Step 2
Add rinsed lentils and water. Simmer, stirring, until thick and the lentils collapse, 25 minutes. Salt.
25 min
Nutrition
Per serving · estimate
- Calories
- 236 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 23.3 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Saturated fat
- 1.3 g
- Fibre
- 6.8 g
- Sugar
- 4.7 g
- Sodium
- 901 mg
Calculated from canonical ingredient data (USDA FoodData Central averages and equivalent published tables). Estimates only.
Allergens
Informational only. Not a medical guarantee. Cross-contamination happens in real kitchens.
- No major allergens flagged in the structured ingredients.
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
Adapt this recipe
The original recipe stays as it is. Personal versions are labelled. Serving changes are simple maths.
Adaptations · 0 / 15 used. Resets 13 November.
Substitutions
Red lentils → Brown lentils
Longer cook, less of the orange velvet.
Tips
- A knob of butter at the end if it is not a fasting day.
- It thickens as it sits. Loosen with water to reheat.
History & culture
Orthodox fasting days are frequent. This is why Ethiopian vegetarian cooking is a repertoire, not a side.
Lentils and berbere. The feast/fast calendar made this pot central.
Traditional
Provenance: Editorial adaptation.
Questions about this recipe
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips.
How long does Misir wat take?
55 min all in — 15 min prep, 40 min cook. Cook and rest follow the method. Leftover storage and optional extra waits are not included.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 4 bowls. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Easy.
How spicy is it?
Hot.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Vegetarian, Vegan.
What does it cost to cook?
Cheap night — about Under $8 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
6 more questionsFewer questions
What equipment do I need?
Saucepan.
How much salt do I put in?
The recipe lists Salt at 1 tsp.
What can I use instead?
Red lentils → Brown lentils. Longer cook, less of the orange velvet.
Any tips from this recipe?
A knob of butter at the end if it is not a fasting day. It thickens as it sits. Loosen with water to reheat.
Can I prepare this ahead?
It thickens as it sits. Loosen with water to reheat.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.
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