Genfo
Genfo has a hard, porridge-like texture and is shaped like a volcano. For most Eritreans and Ethiopians, this is a daily breakfast. If you like African food, you'll notice that it has a lot in common with Asida, a flour-based porridge. It's tough to learn anything about Genfo's past. Still, in the 7th century, this type of porridge could have made its way to Eritrea and Ethiopia via the Muslim populace.
Genfo is typically made using barley flour, but it can also be made with wheat or cornmeal. To enhance the flavor, the flour should be dry-roasted. You may make it look like a volcano by adding clarified butter and berbere, and serving it with scoops. Many natives eat it with their hands.
Ingredients
- 1 cup wheat or barley flour, 2 cups Water, 1 tablespoon berbere, or more, to taste, 2-3 tablespoons Niter Kibbeh or oil, Touch of cardamom (to taste), Plain yogurt (optional)
Instructions
- To make your Genfo, Ethiopian Porridge add about 3 cups of Water in a pot and a teaspoon of salt and let it boil on a medium hot heat.
- Once the Water boils, slowly add the flour onto the Water while stirring with a wooden spoon.
- After adding a significant amount of flour, the mixture starts to get extremely thick making it hard to stir.
- When it gets to that point, stir very hard so there will not be any lumps.
- Add a little bit of Water to the side and continue stirring so it won’t stick at the bottom and burn.
- When the Water gets absorbed, add a little bit more Water to the side and continue with your stirring for another 4 or 5 minutes until the Water gets absorbed.
- Remove the Genfo or Ethiopian Porridge from the heat.
- Add oil or melted butter into a bowl and scoop the Genfo into the bowl.
- Use your spoon or move the bowl side to side to form a nice ball.
- Right at the center of the Genfo ball, make a well using the back of your spoon.
- Then add your melted butter or oil in the well, followed by the berbere while the Genfo is still hot. Mix the Berebere and oil/melted butter in the well and serve your Genfo immediately.
