Injera (Ethiopian Flatbread)

This is a sour, spongy bread from Ethiopia, served at nearly every meal. In the homeland this bread is made as a sourdough. This recipe is a modification for America kitchens by Marcus Samuelsson. Lay a piece of it on the hugest plate you have. In the center of it put a dipper of your finest, zestiest, most mouthwatering stew. Now, eat the stew tearing off pieces of the bread from the sides & scooping up the stew. Need another piece of injera?! Sure! It could take 2 or 3 pieces to scoop up all that wonderful stew.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 4-6
• Yields: 12 flatbreads

Ingredients

• 2  cups teff flour or 2  cups whole wheat flour, not stone ground
• 1  cup all-purpose flour, not self-rising
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1⁄2 cup  cups plain yogurt
• 3  cups  club soda

Directions

1. Teff flour is available from a whole foods store or Northern African markets. Nancy's yogurt is best because of its tartness. You want not-sweet yogurt.
2. Whisk (or stir together with your largest fork) the flours, salt & baking soda in a large bowl. In a separate bowl whisk the yogurt into the club soda, then stir this in the flour mix making a thin, smooth batter. Strain to make sure there a no lumps.
3. Pam your largest skillet & heat over medium high heat. Pour about 1/2 cup of batter into the skillet starting in the center & spiraling out. Cook for 20 seconds. (The bread should have a gajillion tiny pinholes in it at this point.) Cover for 30 more seconds. Remove it to a warm platter & cover with a cloth to keep it warm while you cook the rest of the flat breads.
4. Lay a piece of the flat bread on the hugest plate you have. In the center of it put a dipper of your finest, zestiest, most mouthwatering thick stew. Now, eat the stew, tearing off pieces of the bread from the sides & scooping up the stew. (Look Ma, no fork!) Need another piece of injera?! Sure you do! It could take 2 or 3 pieces to scoop up all that wonderful stew.
5. Once you have gained confidence with this & know your mama isn't going to come make you use a fork, add 2 or 3 more dippers of food. Veggies. Green beans & carrots & maybe a wilted spinach salad. Of course, you'll need more injera to scoop all that up. But what the heck -- .