Ethio-Yum-erican Bites—Snack for 6
Ethio-Yum-erican Bites are a delightful snack combining Ethiopian and American flavors. These bite-sized morsels feature a blend of spiced lentils, sautéed vegetables, and melted cheese, wrapped in a crispy pastry shell. Perfect for sharing, these fusion treats offer a unique and satisfying taste experience.
Meal Type
Snack
Cuisine
Ethiopian American Fusion
Servings
6
Food Stars
Health
Variations
Diets
Variations
Do This With That Stuff
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- In a large pot, combine 1 cup red lentils and 2 cups water, bring to a boil over medium-high heat
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until lentils are tender
- Drain lentils in a colander and set aside
- In a medium skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat
- Add 1 small finely chopped onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened
- Add 2 minced garlic cloves and cook for an additional minute
- Stir in 1/2 cup diced bell pepper, 1/2 cup diced tomato, 1 tsp berbere spice mix, 1/4 tsp ground cumin, 1/4 tsp paprika, and 1/4 tsp ground coriander; cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until vegetables are tender
- Add cooked lentils to the skillet and stir well to combine; season with salt and black pepper to taste
- Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool slightly before stirring in the shredded cheese (2 cups)
- Unroll phyllo dough sheets on a clean surface; keep covered with a damp cloth while working to prevent drying out
- Place one sheet of phyllo dough on the cutting board; brush lightly with melted unsalted butter (from the small bowl)
- Place another sheet on top of the first one; brush again with melted butter
- Cut the stacked sheets into six equal rectangles (two rows of three)
- Place approximately two tablespoons of filling onto one end of each rectangle; fold phyllo dough over filling diagonally to form a triangle shape (like folding a flag)
- Continue folding back and forth until you reach the end of the strip; brush edges with melted butter to seal triangle pockets closed
- Repeat process with remaining phyllo sheets and filling, making a total of 12 triangle pockets
- Place filled triangles on the prepared baking sheet; brush tops with any remaining melted butter
- Bake for 20-25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown and crispy
Obvious and Not So Obvious Variations and Pairings
☕ Bitter
- Add 1/4 tsp ground bitter melon
- Add 1/4 cup chopped dandelion greens
- Increase ground cumin to 1/2 tsp
- Increase berbere spice mix to 1.5 tsp
🧂 Salty
- Increase salt to 1/2 tsp
- Add 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- Add 1/4 cup chopped olives
- Add 1/2 tsp soy sauce
🍋 Sour
- Add 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Add 1/4 cup chopped pickles
- Replace tomato with 3/4 cup diced tomatillos
🌶️ Spicy
- Increase berbere spice mix to 2 tsp
- Add 1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper
- Add 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
- Add 1/4 tsp ground ginger
🍬 Sweet
- Add 1/4 cup honey
- Add 1/2 cup raisins
- Add 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- Add 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
- Increase paprika to 1/2 tsp
🍄 Umami
- Add 1 tbsp soy sauce
- Add 1/2 tsp ground porcini mushroom powder
- Increase the berbere spice mix to 1.5 tsp
- Add 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese to the shredded cheese mix
🍸 Alcoholic
- Ethiopian Honey Wine (Tej): The sweetness of the honey wine complements the spice from the berbere mix
- Amber Ale: The maltiness and slight hop bitterness of the amber ale balance the rich flavors of the dish
- Grenache: The fruity notes and medium body of this red wine pair well with the bold spices and lentils in the recipe
🥤 Non Alcoholic
- Hibiscus Tea: The tangy and fruity flavor complements the spices in the dish
- Mango Lassi: The creamy and sweet taste balances the heat from the berbere spice mix
- Ginger Lemonade: The zesty and refreshing taste cuts through the richness of the cheese and phyllo dough
🥓 Keto
- Replace red lentils with 1 cup cauliflower rice
- Replace phyllo dough with 6 large lettuce leaves
- Remove unsalted butter
- Increase olive oil to 2 tbsp
- Use the olive oil to cook the filling and brush the lettuce wraps
🍆 Mediterranean
- Replace berbere spice mix with 1 tsp za’atar spice mix
- Replace cheddar or mozzarella cheese with 1 cup crumbled feta cheese and 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- Add 1/4 cup chopped kalamata olives
- Add 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
🥑 Paleo
- Replace red lentils with 1 cup cauliflower rice
- Remove shredded cheese
- Replace phyllo dough with 12 large lettuce leaves
- Remove unsalted butter
- Increase olive oil to 2 tbsp
🐟 Pescatarian
- Add 1 cup cooked, flaked salmon
- Replace 1 cup red lentils with 1/2 cup red lentils
🌱 Vegan
- Replace 2 cups shredded cheese with 2 cups vegan cheese
- Replace 1/4 cup unsalted butter with 1/4 cup melted vegan butter
🥦 Vegetarian
- No changes needed as the recipe is already vegetarian friendly.
🥩 Whole30
- Remove shredded cheese
- Replace phyllo dough with 6 large collard green leaves, blanched
- Remove unsalted butter
- Increase olive oil to 2 tbsp
🧠 Brain Health
- Replace 1 tbsp olive oil with 1 tbsp coconut oil
- Add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- Add 1/4 cup chopped almonds
- Replace 1/4 cup unsalted butter with 1/4 cup coconut oil
🌾 Celiac Disease
- Replace phyllo dough with gluten-free phyllo dough
- Replace unsalted butter with gluten-free vegan butter
💩 Crohns Disease
- Remove bell pepper
- Remove tomato
- Replace berbere spice mix with 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
- Replace phyllo dough with 12 gluten-free tortillas
- Decrease unsalted butter to 2 tbsp
🩸 Diabetes
- Replace 2 cups shredded cheese with 1 cup low-fat cheese
- Replace 12 sheets phyllo dough with 6 sheets whole wheat phyllo dough
- Replace 1/4 cup unsalted butter with 1/8 cup unsalted butter and 1/8 cup olive oil
🍞 Gluten Intolerance
- Replace 12 sheets phyllo dough with 12 gluten-free phyllo dough sheets
- Replace 1/4 cup unsalted butter with 1/4 cup melted ghee for brushing
🫀 Heart Disease
- Replace 1 tbsp olive oil with 1 tbsp avocado oil
- Replace 1/4 cup unsalted butter with 1/4 cup heart-healthy margarine
- Decrease shredded cheese to 1 cup
- Add 1/2 cup chopped spinach
❤️ Heart Health
- Replace 1 tbsp olive oil with 1 tbsp avocado oil
- Replace 1/4 cup unsalted butter with 1/4 cup avocado oil
- Replace 2 cups shredded cheese with 1 cup shredded low-fat cheese
- Add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
🧂 High Blood Pressure
- Remove salt
- Replace butter with 1/4 cup olive oil
- Decrease berbere spice mix to 1/2 tsp
🍔 High Cholesterol
- Replace 1 tbsp olive oil with 1 tbsp avocado oil
- Replace 2 cups shredded cheese with 2 cups shredded low-fat cheese
- Replace 1/4 cup unsalted butter with 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
🦠 Immune System
- Replace olive oil with 1 tbsp coconut oil
- Add 1/2 cup chopped spinach
- Add 1/2 cup chopped kale
- Add 1/4 cup chopped almonds
- Replace shredded cheese with 2 cups shredded vegan cheese
🚽 Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Replace onion with 1/4 cup chopped green onion tops (green part only)
- Replace garlic with 1/4 tsp garlic-infused olive oil
- Replace bell pepper with 1/2 cup diced zucchini
- Replace phyllo dough with gluten-free phyllo dough
💧 Kidney Disease
- Decrease red lentils to 3/4 cup
- Decrease water to 1.5 cups
- Replace berbere spice mix with 1/2 tsp turmeric
- Remove salt from seasoning
- Replace shredded cheese with 1.5 cups low-sodium cheese
🐄 Lactose Intolerance
- Replace 2 cups shredded cheese with 2 cups shredded lactose-free cheese
- Replace 1/4 cup unsalted butter with 1/4 cup lactose-free margarine
🍺 Liver Disease
- Decrease olive oil to 1/2 tbsp
- Replace unsalted butter with 1/4 cup olive oil
- Decrease shredded cheese to 1 cup
- Remove salt from seasoning
🤰 Pregnancy
- No changes needed
Beti’s Reflections
On a recent culinary adventure, I stumbled upon a hidden gem of a recipe that marries the bold flavors of Ethiopian cuisine with the comforting goodness of American fare. The result? Ethio-Yum-erican Bites! These scrumptious morsels are the perfect fusion of Ethiopian American Recipe, featuring spiced lentils, sautéed veggies, and gooey cheese all wrapped up in a crispy phyllo dough shell. Trust me when I say these Berbere Lentil Triangles are about to become your new favorite snack.
This delightful Phyllo Dough Appetizer serves six people and is perfect for sharing at your next gathering. However, it’s important to note that this recipe contains dairy and gluten, so it may not be suitable for those with certain dietary restrictions or allergies.
The magic behind these Cheesy Lentil Pockets lies in the harmonious blend of ingredients. Red lentils provide a hearty base while berbere spice mix adds an Ethiopian flair with its warm and earthy notes. The sautéed onion, garlic, bell pepper, and tomato bring a burst of freshness to the dish. Finally, shredded cheese (such as cheddar or mozzarella) adds that irresistible gooey factor we all know and love.
To create these Ethio-Yum-erican Bites, start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cook red lentils until tender before sautéing your veggies with spices like berbere mix, cumin, paprika, and coriander. Combine the cooked lentils with the veggie mixture before folding in shredded cheese. Then comes the fun part – wrapping your Cheesy Lentil Triangles in butter-brushed phyllo dough sheets! Once assembled, bake these Spiced Lentil Pockets until golden brown and crispy.
There you have it – the ultimate Ethiopian American fusion appetizer that’s sure to impress your friends and family. These Ethio-Yum-erican Bites are not only delicious but also a fantastic way to introduce new flavors and textures to your palate. So go ahead, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to embark on a culinary journey with these Berbere Lentil Cheese Triangles. Happy cooking!
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