Defo Dabo Recipe

Defo Dabo is one of the several types of bread made in Ethiopia. Typically, making Defo Dabo requires a special ingredient – the leaves of the Enset (false banana) plant or Koba Kitel in Amharic. However, if you can’t find false banana leaves near you, you can just use banana leaves instead.

Equipment Recommendations for Making Defo Dabo

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Defo Dabo Recipe

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5 from 7 reviews

Defo Dabo is one of the several types of bread made in Ethiopia. Typically, making Defo Dabo requires a special ingredient – the leaves of the Enset (false banana) plant or Koba Kitel in Amharic. However, if you can’t find false banana leaves near you, you can just use banana leaves instead.

  • Author: Sara Bayou
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Breads
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: Ethiopian
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 ¼ cups (780 ml / 390g) wheat flour
  • 12 oz (340 ml) warm water
  • ½ packet (3.5g) instant yeast
  • ½ lb (227g) banana leaf
  • 3 tbsp (45 ml / 36g) sugar
  • ½ tbsp (7.5 ml / 7.5g) salt
  • ½ tbsp (7.5 ml / 3g) coriander powder
  • ½ tbsp (7.5 ml / 3g) cumin
  • ½ tbsp (7.5 ml / 3g) cardamom
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml / 28g) olive oil

Instructions

  1. Start by adding the instant yeast, sugar, and salt into a mid-sized bowl. Then pour the 12 oz. water into the mix and stir it thoroughly.
  2. Cover the mixture and let it sit for about 20 min. to get the yeast activated and start to bubble.
  3. Mix the coriander powder, cumin, and cardamom with oil and pour in the flour. Then use your hands to mix and knead them until the dough is soft, moist, and elastic. Add some more water if necessary.
  4. Set the dough aside and let it sit for some 60 minutes – covered with a clean cloth or plastic. By the end, the dough should rise to about double its original size.
  5. Place the dough on a large-sized baking pan that has been lined with some banana leaves and aluminum foil both on the sides and the base. Then place some more banana leaves on top of the dough.
  6. Let the dough sit for about 20 minutes while it’s still covered in banana leaves, then transfer it to an oven that has been preheated to 350°.
  7. Bake the dough until the dough is cooked thoroughly for about 50 – 60 minutes, and remove it from the oven. Peel off the banana leaves and slice pieces to serve.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 100g
  • Calories: 230 kcal
  • Sugar: 4.5g
  • Sodium: 375mg
  • Fat: 4g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.5g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 42g
  • Fiber: 1.3g
  • Protein: 4.9g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

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Sara Bayou

Sara Bayou

Sara is a cultural storyteller and food enthusiast with a passion for preserving Ethiopia’s heritage. With a background in anthropology and culinary arts, she curates Ethiopian Roots’ recipes, cultural deep-dives, and travel guides. Sara’s expertise is further showcased in her acclaimed cookbook, “Vegetarian Ethiopia: 60 Timeless Recipes of Authentic Ethiopian,” where she expertly guides readers through the vibrant flavors and nutritional wonders of Ethiopian vegetarian cuisine.

Articles: 1290

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