Whipped Bean Paste · Tigrayan Breakfast
Hilbet
Photo: Eualt / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hilbet takes its name from hilba, the word for fenugreek, the seed that gives the paste its faint bitterness and distinctive aroma.
Hilbet is made by grinding fava beans, fenugreek and lentils into a fine powder, then cooking and whipping the mixture into a smooth, cream-like paste. A pool of hot berbere sauce sits at the center and it's scooped up with injera.
Why it's made this way: As a filling, protein-rich vegan dish, hilbet is a staple during the many fasting periods observed in Tigrayan Orthodox Christian households, when meat and dairy are off the table.
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