Karya, Ethiopian Stuffed Green Chilies
Karya are the green chilies that come with an Ethiopian meal, sometimes whole and raw, sometimes slit and stuffed with a quick onion and tomato relish for a cooler, spoonable heat. This is the stuffed version, built on the same lemon-macerated onion that seasons a good tomato salad without salt. Halving and seeding the chilies keeps the burn friendly, and the raw filling stays crisp and bright next to the soft, spiced stews it is meant to cut through. Use the freshest chilies you can find, since here they are the dish and not the accent.
Ingredients
- 6 Jalapeños, halved lengthwise and seeded
- 1/2 Red onions, finely diced
- 1 Fresh tomatoe, seeded and finely diced
- 1 clove Garlic, minced
- 1/2 Lemons, juiced
- 2 tbsp Flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Method
- Put the diced onion in a small bowl with the lemon juice and let it sit for 5 minutes. The acid softens the raw onion and seasons it, the same trick that carries a salt-free timatim salata, so the filling tastes finished without salt.
- Halve the chilies lengthwise and scrape out the seeds and ribs. Seeding pulls the heat down to a level you can eat by the spoonful, which is the point of karya as a side rather than a garnish.
- Stir the tomato, garlic, and parsley into the onion. Spoon the relish into the chile boats and let them stand a few minutes so the juices settle into the peppers.
- Serve at room temperature alongside lentil and vegetable stews. Their job is to be raw, sharp, and hot against the long-cooked wat on the plate, a role a cooked pepper cannot fill.
Nutrition
Estimated per serving: 40 calories, 2 g protein, 3 g fiber, 12 mg sodium. Computed from USDA FoodData Central reference values for the main ingredients. This is an approximation, not a laboratory measurement. How these are computed.
Cost per serving is estimated from US national-average retail prices for cheap staple forms, using BLS dried-bean prices and USDA produce prices. Prices vary by store and season, so treat it as a guide, not a receipt. How this is computed.
