Atkilt Wat

Atkilt Wat

Atkilt means vegetables, and the version familiar from restaurants in Israel combines cabbage, carrots and potatoes in a mild yellow alicha seasoning. It is not a dish of one region or religion, but a widespread home-style side that suits a shared platter.

Prep time: 20 minutes · Cooking time: 40 minutes · Yield: 6 servings · Difficulty: easy

Cut according to cooking time

Potatoes into 2 cm cubes, carrots into thin slices and cabbage into wide strips. If they are all the same size, the cabbage will fall apart before the potato softens.

Ingredients (for 6 servings)

• 800 grams potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 800 grams white cabbage, cut into strips
• 400 grams sliced carrots
• 200 grams chopped onion
• 60 ml olive or canola oil
• 4 garlic cloves and 20 grams ginger, chopped
• 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, salt and pepper
• 350 ml hot water

Choosing ingredients and substitutes

Yellow or red potatoes hold their shape. You can replace a third of the cabbage with cauliflower, but add it with the cabbage. There is no need for berbere: this is an alicha dish, and the turmeric is what gives it color.

Method

1. Soften the onion. Heat the oil and cook the onion for 8 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger, turmeric and cumin for a minute.
2. Start with the hard vegetables. Add the potatoes and carrots, stir and add 250 ml water. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
3. Add the cabbage. Add the cabbage, salt and the remaining 100 ml of water, cover and cook for another 15–20 minutes. Stir gently once or twice.
4. Reduce. Remove the lid and evaporate excess liquid for 5 minutes. The vegetables should be tender and whole, not soup.

Nutrition facts and calorie estimate

The calculation includes all the oil. With half an injera, the serving is about 360 calories.

Variations and tips

• Don’t stir much after adding the potatoes so they don’t turn into mash.
• For a spicy version, serve berbere on the side and don’t change the alicha base.
• Keeps for 4 days in the fridge; reheat covered with a spoonful of water.

Summary

Atkilt wat is the mild counterpart to berbere stews: turmeric, ginger and vegetables that stay whole. A serving is about 260 calories. Serve alongside shiro and gomen.