Spiced Ethiopian Cottage Cheese with Collard Greens (Ayib Be Gomen Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What is Ethiopian Gomen made of? ›

Gomen Wat is another one of my favorite side dishes when we go out for Ethiopian food. Wat or wot usually means stew or curry in Ethiopia. This is a simple flavorful side dish made with collard greens(Gomen).

Ayib, a traditional Ethiopian cottage cheese, is a popular milk product consumed by the various ethnic groups of the country. It is made from sour milk after the butter is removed by churning.

Olive oil, salt, and pepper: These classic flavors never disappoint — and you most certainly have them already in your kitchen. Give cottage cheese a drizzle of your best olive oil, flaky sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper.

The vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber found in collard greens provide significant health benefits. Dietary fiber is important for helping maintain your digestive health. The soluble fiber in collard greens can help absorb cholesterol before it makes its way into your bloodstream, lowering your cholesterol levels.

3. It's Healthy. Did you know that the star ingredient, teff, in injera, is not only super tasty but also jam-packed with nutrients? The super grain is filled with complete proteins, fibre, magnesium, iron and calcium (in fact, no other grain on earth has more fibre per serving).

The texture of ayib will remind you of goat cheese, which you can use as a substitute. Goat cheese has a more assertive flavor, and the ayib adds a nice lactic element to the dish without taking over.

Its texture resembles feta cheese in that it crumbles easily, but unlike feta, it has a milder, more earthy taste. Ayib can be added to vegetable dishes such as collard greens or eaten alone on bread or crackers as an appetizer or snack.

Ayib (aka Ayibe) is a soft Ethiopian fresh cheese similar to cottage cheese. It is usually made at home or through farmhouse production, as a by-product of making butter (just as cottage cheese is in western cuisine.)

Yes, I'm sure they know spices and herbs are different things. Fran Hoepfner's contribution is paprika, specifically the custom of putting it on cottage cheese, which her parents do.

So far, these two high-protein snacks are neck in neck when considering protein, calcium and calories. But one clear distinction steers the choice: Cottage cheese can be loaded with sodium. Just 1 cup of cottage cheese can deliver 8 to 9 times the sodium found in Greek yogurt.

Why put pepper on cottage cheese? ›

Use of black pepper was effective in controlling the growth of microorganisms in cottage cheese.

For a sweet option, you can mix cottage cheese with fresh fruit, honey, or cinnamon. You could also use it as a topping for pancakes or waffles, or to make a creamy smoothie. For a savory option, you could use cottage cheese as a healthier alternative to sour cream or mayo in dips and spreads.

The cheese's texture lends itself well to simple toppings, like a drizzle of olive oil, but textural pops like crunchy chips and juicy tomatoes work well as a fun change if you feel like you're stuck in a CC rut. Other mix-in ideas from our readers included crumbled bacon, Kalamata olives, and salsa.

"Injera" is an Amharic term for Ethiopian bread similar to pan cake, made usually from teff. Injera is thin, prepared from teff flour, water and starter (a fluid collected from previously fermented mix) after successive fermentations [1].

Indigenous to Ethiopia, grains such as sorghum, millet, teff, and wheat grow well in the temperate climate and are used in many Ethiopian dishes. Ethiopian cuisine today is a blend of introduced spices and food items coupled with indigenous grains and proteins.

Traditional ingredients

Berbere, a combination of powdered chili pepper and other spices (cardamom, fenugreek, coriander, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, cumin and allspice) is an important ingredient used to add flavor to many varied dishes like chicken stews and baked fish dishes.

Ethiopian cuisine is not only healthy and nutritious, but also a great way to expose children to new flavors and teach them about another part of the world at the same time. What kids will love most about Ethiopian food is that you use your hands — exclusively! Though a tad messy at times, it's the perfect finger food.