Vegetarians have long known Ethiopian Restaurants have a large selection of vegetarian and vegan friendly dishes. The dishes are a welcome change to the readily available vegetarian dishes such as salads, tofu and steamed vegetables.

A large variety of Ethiopian vegetarian dishes evolved due to the tradition of abstinence from all animal products during the many Orthodox Christian fasting days that are observed in Ethiopia.

Ethiopian vegetarian dishes are not regional such as Indian restaurants North Indian Mughlai and Punjabi cuisine & others... Ethiopian Restaurants carry dishes that are the same things served all over Ethiopia.

There is a degree of magic & secret factor about the Ethiopian restaurant menu. Diners are led to believe that dishs are lovingly prepared to some secret recipe, known only to that particular chef. But most dishes in the typical Ethiopian restaurant don't vary much at all. This is not to say that the dishes are not enjoyable but to give you some confidence in your dish selection if you feel a bit bewildered when you go to a new Ethiopian restaurant across the street, town or in another city.

Ethiopian Restaurants usually carry 7-10 vegetarian dishes, they are Wots or Wett (sauces) and Atkilts (vegetables). Wots are either spicy or mild (aletcha). While Atkilts(vegetables) are served mild. Look below for the average dishes found at most Ethiopian restaurants.

Vegetarian Dishes

Aterkik Alitcha - split peas prepared with light sauce
Atkilt Wot - cabbage, carrots, potatoes simmered in sauce
Atkilt Salata - boiled potatoes, jalapeno mixed in salad dressing
Buticha - chickpea dip mixed with lemon juice
Inguday Tibs - mushroom sauteed with onions
Fasolia - string beans and carrots sauteed in caramelized onion
Gomen - collard green cooked to perfection with spices

Misir Wot - pureed split red lentil are simmered berbere sauce

Misir Alitcha - pureed split red lentil are simmered in mild sauce
Shimbra Asa - chickpeas flour dumplings & cooked in wot
Shiro Alitcha - mild split peas are milled together & slow cooked
Shiro Wot - split peas are milled together and slow cooked

Salata - Ethiopian salad, dressing: lemon, jalapeno & spices

Timatim Selata - tomatoe salad, onions, jalapeno & lemon juice