Abyssinia: Sharing food, friendship and Ethiopian charm
Folks who haven’t eaten at an Ethiopian restaurant before are in for a real treat at the Abyssinia restaurant in near-north side Indy. Sharing your food with friends and family is an integral part of your eating experience here.
At Abyssinia, you will not find utensils. You will also notice duck-egg blue tablecloths, hand-embroidered chair covers, and bright yellow walls – all a part of traditional Ethiopian dining style.
Dining here is fun but messy. To Ethiopians, eating from the same plate and sharing food creates a bond of friendship. All food is beautifully arranged on one big platter, and diners simply dip or scoop up their food with a large spongy sourdough flatbread called Injera. Made of “Teff,” a fine grain that is only found in Ethiopia, pieces of Injera are ripped away with the right hand and offered around the table.
The vast menu offers English explanations for all dishes. Starting with the appetizers, and for those cheese lovers, try a meal starter called Ayib Bemitmita, a farmer’s cheese mixed with mitmita, a hot pepper powder. Combine this with a Yesega Sambusa, a crispy pastry stuffed with a lightly spiced ground beef.
Entrees include beef, lamb, chicken, goat or vegetarian options. The Yedoro Alecha, is a tender chicken breast marinated in lemon, sautéed in niter kitbeh and stewed with onion, garlic and gingerroot. For a vegetarian option, try the Denech Alecha, cubed potato and carrots cooked in a mild sauce of onions, garlic, ginger and Ethiopian spices.
Many of the dishes include "Berbere,” an Ethiopian seasoning prepared from matured red chili pepper and spices.
Be sure to complement your meal with an Ethiopian beer or a glass of honey wine.
HelloIndianapolis Tip: For group meetings or for something unusual, call the restaurant to find out about their Ethiopian Traditional Coffee Ceremony.
- by Jim Brown , Indianapolis Reporter for HelloMetro
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Jim Brown Jim Brown is a longtime freelance aviation, travel and destination writer and communications professional. A former reporter for Aviation Daily, Air Safety Week and World Airline News, Jim served for more than 15 years as a senior public relations executive for American Airlines, TWA and AirTran Airways.
