Ater Kik Alicha
Description
Ater Kik Alicha - Authentic recipe from Ethiopia. Ready in 40 min. Vegan. Try it now!
Directions
✓ researched- 1
Prepare 200 g split yellow peas. Finely chop 1 onion and sauté in 2 tbsp oil until golden. Add 2 cloves of garlic.
⏱️ approx. 12 min💡 Tip: Ater Kik Alicha is a mild Ethiopian split pea dish — yellow split peas cooked with turmeric, onions, garlic, and ginger until creamy. Mild, savory, protein-rich, and vegan. A popular side dish served with injera.
- 2
Add 1 tsp turmeric (gives the yellow color, alicha style, mild). Add the split peas and water.
⏱️ approx. 12 min💡 Tip: Ater Kik (yellow split peas) are cooked until soft and creamy (they partially fall apart on their own). Turmeric gives the yellow color and mild aroma (alicha, without berbere). Garlic and ginger are typical. Vegan and protein-rich.
- 3
Simmer until the split peas are soft and creamy (partially falling apart). Season with salt. Finish with a little niter kibbeh.
⏱️ approx. 12 min💡 Tip: Ater Kik Alicha is served as a mild, vegan side dish with injera — the yellow, creamy split peas. A popular, protein-rich component of beyaynetu (mixed platter). Mild and savory. Enjoyed during fasting seasons.
📜 Origin & History
Ater Kik Alicha is one of the oldest and most widespread fasting dishes in Ethiopia and is served on the numerous religious fasting days of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Yellow split peas are rich in protein and were historically an important food that bridged the long fasting periods nutritionally. Alongside Misir Wot, the dish is the most common legume dish on the fasting platter.
🌿 Regional variants
Spicy (Kik Wat)
With berbere — spicy, red.
With Carrots
With carrots — more colorful.
🍷 What goes with it?
Served with injera. As part of beyaynetu. During fasting seasons. Mild, vegan, and protein-rich.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ater Kik Alicha?
Ater Kik Alicha is a mild Ethiopian split pea dish — yellow split peas (ater kik) cooked with turmeric (alicha = mild), onions, garlic, and ginger until creamy. Vegan and protein-rich. A popular side dish.
Mild or spicy?
This version is mild (alicha, with turmeric, yellow, without berbere). For a spicy variation, add berbere (kik wat, red). The mild version lets the flavors of garlic and ginger shine through.
Why is it eaten during fasting seasons?
Ater Kik Alicha is vegan and protein-rich — ideal for Ethiopian Orthodox fasting periods (no meat or animal products). A filling, nutritious component of the vegetarian fasting platter (beyaynetu).
Reviews
No reviews yetLogin to rate
LoginAll Reviews
Ingredients
verified- geteilte gelbe Erbse200 g
- Onion1 pcs
- Garlic clove2 pcs
- Oil2 tbsp
- Turmeric1 tsp
