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Ethiopia

Photo by Erik Hathaway on Unsplash

Ethiopia for vegan & vegetarian travelers

Ethiopia is one of the best destinations in the world for vegan and vegetarian travelers. Religious fasting traditions create a rich variety of plant-based dishes, including lentils, vegetables, and spiced stews served with injera.

Ethiopia

Vegan Friendliness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Vegetarian Friendliness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Best For: Religious fasting dishes, legumes, vegetables
Challenging Because: Clarified butter on non-fasting days

🥗 What to Eat

  • Vegetarian-friendly: Shiro, misir wot (lentils), atkilt wot (cabbage & carrots)
  • Vegan-friendly: Fasting platter (beyaynetu), injera with lentils and vegetables
  • Accidentally vegan: Most Orthodox fasting dishes (tsom)

🚫 Watch Out For

  • Niter kibbeh (spiced clarified butter)
  • Meat stock on non-fasting days

🗣️ Survival Phrases (Amharic)

  • I am vegetarian: እኔ ቬጀቴሪያን ነኝ
    (eh-NAY veh-jeh-teh-ree-YAN nehng)
  • I am vegan: እኔ ቬጋን ነኝ
    (eh-NAY veh-GAHN nehng)
  • No meat: ስጋ የለም
    (sig-GAH yeh-lem)
  • No butter: ቅቤ የለም
    (kih-BEH yeh-lem)
  • Is this fasting food? ይህ ጾም ነው?
    (yeh-hih tsom new?)

🧭 Veggie Trip Tip

Ask if the dish is tsom (fasting food). During Orthodox fasting periods, entire menus are naturally vegan and incredibly flavorful.

Capital – Addis Ababa 🇪🇹

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