Ethiopian Atkilt Wot (Spiced Cabbage and Carrot Stew)

About This Recipe

Atkilt wot is one of the milder dishes found on an Ethiopian platter, cabbage, carrots and potato cooked down with turmeric rather than berbere, offering a gentle, golden-colored counterpoint to the richer, spicier stews served alongside it. The vegetables are cooked slowly in oil with onion and a touch of turmeric until soft, absorbing the fat's flavor without needing intense spicing, resulting in something comforting and easy to eat in quantity. Almost always served as part of a larger combination platter with injera, atkilt provides textural and flavor variety, its mildness intentional so it can be eaten alongside far spicier dishes without competing for attention.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 1/2 headgreen cabbage(sliced)
• 3carrots(sliced)
• 2potatoes(peeled and cubed)
• 3 tbspvegetable oil
• 1onion(sliced)
• 2 clovesgarlic(minced)
• 1/2 tspturmeric
• 1/2 tspfresh ginger(minced)
• 1 tspsalt
• 1/2 cupwater

Instructions

1. 1

   Cook the onion

   Heat oil in a large pot and cook onion until softened, about 8 minutes.

2. 2

   Add spice

   Add garlic, turmeric and ginger, cooking 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

3. 3

   Add the vegetables

   Add potato and carrot, stirring to coat in the spiced oil, then add water and salt.

4. 4

   Simmer

   Cover and simmer 15 minutes until the potato and carrot are nearly tender.

   Add the cabbage last, since it cooks much faster than the potato and carrot and can turn mushy if added too early.

5. 5

   Add cabbage

   Add the sliced cabbage, cover, and simmer 8-10 more minutes until everything is tender.

6. 6

   Serve

   Serve warm alongside injera or as part of a larger platter.

Variations

• •

  Some versions add a bit of green bell pepper for extra color and flavor.

• •

  A slightly spicier version adds a small amount of berbere for those who prefer more heat even in this typically mild dish.

• •

  Adding a pinch of curry powder instead of just turmeric gives a different, though less traditional, flavor profile.

Storage

Refrigerate up to 4 days in an airtight container; reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave.

Frequently Asked Questions