Paulchens FoodBlog?!

Authentic Ethiopian Injera

14 May 2009 9 Comments

I tell ya! This month’s Bread Baking Babes’ had me in the corner!
Not even the Challa desaster was nearly as bad as this!

Why you ask?
First I could not find very easily teff flour. I even thought I had to pause on this one. I was very sad but well what could I do?
But then I mamaged to even find an Austrian Webshop were I could buy teff flour and since they were in Vienna we even could drive there the same day to get it.

Then I happily started to make the starter. First it worked out quite well and it went all bubbly and active after a few hours… but then on day two, three and five it did not behave like Mary said and it started to smell real … um lets put it mildly: not so nice! There was no way I could use it and the deadline kept crawling nearer and nearer…

So a second try I started… and all got was some brownish backish water and something that reminded me of wet sand underneath. Nothing bubbly, happily foaming like a starter, not even with my wildest imaginations.

Great huh?
Well while I stood in my kitchen whining I told myself to give it one more try. I got myself a new packet of yeast, the flour and started one more try.
And it behaved! I got my starter and so I was finally able to make the Injera. TODAY!
I thought the deadline for being a buddy must have been gone by long now when I got back to Mary’s blog (who is serving as The Kitchen of the Month and provided us with this wonderul bread and even some correpsonding recipes to make a real feast!) that she had extended the deadline to 13th of May. YAY! SO maybe I still can be a Buddy *smile*

So here is my final result:

For tomorrows lunch at work I made some of Mary’s recipes she said would be eaten with the Injera:

First I prepared Nitter Kebbeh and Berbere:

Then I made Ethiopian Lentils with Yam and Key Wot:

I also made Ayib be Gomen but disturbingly I have no picture of this one on hand :/

I already tasted the Injera and liked it very much. I also tasted the foods and liked them too although I didn’t use chili with them like the recipes said cause neither I nor Babs like chili.

I am very curious how all will taste together and if G. and Babs will like it or not.

Thanks for the challenge Mary!

Please do visit the Bread Baking Babes:

Update: Oh and I already got my Buddy Badge YAY!!!

Bread Baking Buddy April 09

9 Comments »

Breadchick Mary said:

Excellent JOB! And you made it under the wire but with style.

Thanks for joining us this month.

Breadchick Marys last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: First Brats of the Grilling Season

# 14 May 2009 at 3:00 AM

Tracy Tebo said:

You showed rmarkabl preserverance with the bread. Yoursis he only blog I read that always makes me hungry.
Love to the kitties.

Tracy Tebos last blog post..Mommy’s Day

# 14 May 2009 at 3:08 AM

MyKitchenInHalfCups said:

When I have this trouble, I sometimes wonder why I try it one more time. The results with this bread really make it so worth while. For some reason this bread gave me more a sense of pride than many others . . . ? because it’s such a foreign bread that simple women make everyday without fancy equipment … I don’t know but I really felt great that this work and was even better than I’ve had at great Ethiopian restaurants.
Fantastic bread again from you Astrid!

# 14 May 2009 at 4:26 AM

Lien said:

Yay you made it Astrid! Love how you didn’t give up, such a cool buddy you are.
I left out most of the chili too, it’s great that you can tweak a recipe to your own liking!

Liens last blog post..Simply Saltless

# 14 May 2009 at 7:15 AM

Baking Soda said:

I can so relate to the muddy sandy beach with troubled water feeling!
Still I liked the endresult, getting a starter from our Teff wasn’t easy. I applaud your for going the whole way, it looks delicious!

Baking Sodas last blog post..Slow Cooker Lemon cordial

# 14 May 2009 at 2:07 PM

Lynn said:

Good job, Astrid! Isn’t this a really different starter and bread? You deserve a round of applause for persevering on the starter.

Lynns last blog post..Hard Earned Cupcakes

# 14 May 2009 at 4:14 PM

katie said:

Oh well done!!!! Such perseverance. And it looks wonderful. It was a fun bread….

katies last blog post..Salmon Patties with Tarter Sauce; our house with a buzz-cut

# 18 May 2009 at 8:52 PM

Madam Chow said:

What a great job – I love that you made all the foods to go with it. It seems a lot of us had some trouble in the beginning, but then we worked it out.

# 19 May 2009 at 2:38 AM

Monique said:

Well done , you did a great job. Specially after all that troubles.Wear your Buddie badge with pride ! And bake again with us !

# 19 May 2009 at 10:22 PM