Main Course · Dinner · African ·

Ethiopian Smoked Eggplant Lentil Stew with Mitmita

Name: Ethiopian Smoked Eggplant Lentil Stew with Mitmita
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 105 min
Total time: 140 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 2 large eggplants, evenly pierced with a fork; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 cup dried brown lentils, rinsed; 1 large onion, diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 3 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon ground coriander; 1 tablespoon berbere spice mix; Salt and pepper, to taste; 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon ground cardamom; 1/2 teaspoon ground clove; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Dive into the depths of Ethiopian cuisine with this rich and flavorful smoked eggplant lentil stew, accented with the fiery Mitmita spice blend.

4.3(495 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·January 2, 2026

Ethiopian Smoked Eggplant Lentil Stew with Mitmita — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

35 min

Cook

1 h 45 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Eggplant

For the Stew Base

For the Mitmita Spice Blend

For Finishing

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 288 kcal
Protein: 14.8 g
Carbs: 41.9 g
Fat: 8.3 g
Fiber: 19.4 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1150 kcal
Protein: 59.1 g
Carbs: 167.4 g
Fat: 33.1 g
Fiber: 77.7 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
2 large eggplants evenly pierced with a fork	80	3	19	0.5	8
2 tablespoons olive oil	240	0	0	28	0
1 cup dried brown lentils rinsed	680	50	116	2	62
1 large onion diced	45	1.5	11	0.1	2.5
2 cloves garlic minced	9	0.4	2	0	0.1
3 tablespoons tomato paste	39	2	9	0.3	2
1 teaspoon ground cumin	8	0.4	1	0.5	0.6
1 teaspoon ground coriander	6	0.3	1	0.4	0.6
1 tablespoon berbere spice mix	16	0.5	3	0.5	1
Salt and pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper	11	0.5	2.5	0.6	1.4
1 teaspoon ground cardamom	7	0.2	1.5	0.2	0.6
1/2 teaspoon ground clove	3	0.1	1	0.1	0.7
1/4 teaspoon salt	0	0	0	0	0
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley	2	0.2	0.4	0	0.2
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice	4	0.1	1	0	0.1

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Smoking the Eggplant

1
Preheat grill
Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
2
Oil and grill
Brush eggplants with olive oil and place on grill.
3
Char and soften
Roast for about 15 minutes, turning occasionally, until skin is charred and flesh is soft.

Making the Mitmita Spice Blend

1
Combine spices
Combine cayenne pepper, cardamom, clove, and salt in a small bowl.
2
Mix and set aside
Mix well and set aside.

How to Make Ethiopian Smoked Eggplant Lentil Stew with Mitmita

Total time: 2 h 20 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Preparing the Stew
Sauté onions and garlic in olive oil until translucent. Add tomato paste and spices, stirring for 2 minutes.
2
Cooking Lentils
Add lentils to the onion mixture with 4 cups water. Simmer until tender.
3
Combining Everything
Scoop smoky eggplant flesh, discard skin, and mash it into the stew. Adjust seasoning as needed.