Shiro (food)

Shiro

Shiro served upon injera is a staple food of Eritrean and Ethiopian cuisine
Type	Stew
Place of origin	Ethiopia
Main ingredients	Chickpeas or broad beans, onions, garlic
Variations	Shiro fit-fit
Media: Shiro

Chickpeas being prepared for grinding into flour for shiro tsebhi

Shiro (Ge'ez: ሽሮ) is a homogeneous stew whose primary ingredient is powdered chickpeas or broad bean meal. It is often prepared with the addition of minced onions, garlic and, depending upon regional variation, ground ginger or chopped tomatoes and chili-peppers. Shiro is served atop injera (leavened flatbread) or kitcha (unleavened flatbread). Tegabino shiro is a type of shiro made from heavily spiced legume, chickpea, field pea, or fava bean, oil (or butter), and water. It is brought bubbling to the table in a miniature clay pot or shallow aluminum pan. It is often consumed with dark or sergegna injera.

Shiro can be cooked and added to shredded injera or taita and eaten with a spoon; this version is called shiro fit-fit. Shiro is a vegan food, but there are non-vegan variations that use niter kibbeh (a spiced, clarified butter) or meat (in which case it is called bozena shiro).

Shiro is an essential part of Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine. It is a favorite dish during special occasions, including Tsom (Lent), and other fasting seasons.

See also

• List of African dishes
• List of legume dishes
• List of stews
• Food portal

References

• Ethiopian Millennium (electronic version, retrieved 19 June 2007)