Foods Ethiopians Can't Eat: Understanding Cultural and Religious Dietary Rules

November 25, 2025 •

3 min read

With approximately 40-45% of Ethiopia's population adhering to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, a significant portion of the country's diet is shaped by its extensive fasting periods. This means there are many foods Ethiopians can't eat, either temporarily or permanently, due to deep-rooted religious and cultural dietary laws.

Quick Summary

Ethiopian dietary practices are influenced by Orthodox Tewahedo Christianity, Islam, and regional traditions. Permanent prohibitions include pork and shellfish, while frequent fasting periods require abstaining from all animal products, resulting in a rich vegan culinary tradition.

Key Points

Extensive Fasting: Adherents of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which makes up a large portion of the population, observe fasting for over 200 days a year.
Animal Products Forbidden: During fasts, all animal products including meat, dairy, and eggs are prohibited, leading to a rich vegan culinary tradition.
Permanent Food Prohibitions: Pork and shellfish are permanently forbidden for most Ethiopians due to both religious and cultural norms across Orthodox Christian and Muslim communities.
Ritual Slaughter: For observant Ethiopians, meat must be slaughtered according to specific religious procedures, differentiating it from commercially prepared meat.
Regional Variations: While some taboos are widespread, specific practices, like the consumption of raw meat, can vary by ethnic group and region.
Pregnancy Taboos: Some traditional food taboos, though not universally endorsed, restrict certain nutritious foods like dairy and leafy greens for pregnant women.

Religious Rules and Fasting Periods

The most significant dietary restrictions for many Ethiopians stem from the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which mandates fasting for over half the year for devout followers. These fasts, known as tsom, require abstaining from all animal products, including meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs. The major fasting periods include:

The Great Fast (Abiy Tsom): The 55-day period leading up to Easter.
Fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays: Observed year-round, except for the 50 days after Easter.
The Fast of the Prophets (Tsome Nebiyat): A 40-day fast before Christmas.
The Fast of the Assumption (Tsome Filseta): A 16-day fast in August in honor of the Virgin Mary.

Animal-Derived Products Forbidden During Fasting

Meat: All types of meat, including beef, lamb, and chicken.
Dairy: Milk, butter, and cheese are prohibited.
Eggs: Not consumed during fasting days.
Fish with backbones: For the most observant, this is also restricted during certain fasts like Lent.

Permanent Prohibitions for Religious Groups

While the fasting periods are temporary, some foods are permanently off-limits based on religious beliefs across different faiths in Ethiopia. For example, both Orthodox Christians and Muslims in Ethiopia prohibit the consumption of pork, as it is considered ritually unclean.

Pork: Forbidden for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and Muslims, which is the majority of the population.
Shellfish: Many Ethiopian Orthodox Christians also avoid shellfish, following certain interpretations of Old Testament dietary laws.
Non-kosher/non-halal meat: For both Christian and Muslim Ethiopians, meat must be slaughtered according to specific religious rituals, distinguishing between meat prepared for Christians and that prepared as halal for Muslims.

Cultural Taboos and Norms

Beyond religious rules, cultural beliefs and traditions also dictate which foods are consumed. Some of these taboos particularly affect vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women.

Offal: The eating of organ meats can be taboo in some communities, though practices vary regionally.
Camel meat: While permissible for Muslim Ethiopians, camel meat is not eaten by Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, further distinguishing dietary practices between faiths.
Uncooked meat: While raw meat dishes like kitfo are a delicacy in some northern and central regions, eating uncooked meat is condemned by some southern groups, and improper preparation has historically been associated with health issues like tapeworm.

Fasting vs. Non-Fasting Foods

During the long fasting periods, Ethiopian cuisine features a plethora of vibrant and flavorful vegan dishes. These meals, collectively known as yetsom beyaynetu, are cooked with vegetable oil instead of butter, demonstrating the culinary ingenuity rooted in religious practice.


Feature	Fasting Food (Tsom)	Non-Fasting Food (Fisik)
Meat & Poultry	Prohibited	Common (e.g., doro wot)
Dairy	Prohibited	Common (e.g., ayibe)
Eggs	Prohibited	Common
Cooking Fat	Vegetable Oil	Ethiopian Spiced Clarified Butter (niter qibe)
Sample Dish	Misir wot (red lentil stew)	Doro wot (chicken stew)
Availability	Served on Wednesdays, Fridays, and during fast periods	Served on non-fasting days, holidays like Christmas and Easter

Conclusion

Understanding what foods Ethiopians can't eat reveals the profound influence of religion and culture on the country's cuisine. From the extensive fasting periods of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which fill the menu with delicious vegan options, to the permanent prohibitions against pork and shellfish shared across different faiths, these dietary rules are a cornerstone of daily life. For visitors and residents alike, knowing these customs is key to appreciating the rich and varied culinary traditions of Ethiopia, where food is deeply intertwined with faith and community. You can learn more about the broader culinary landscape and religious fasting practices from resources like Wikipedia's entry on Ethiopian cuisine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ethiopians generally do not eat pork because it is forbidden by both the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Christian and Muslim faiths, which constitute the majority of the population.

During fasting periods, the diet consists exclusively of vegan foods. All animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs, and certain types of fish, are abstained from.

Fish consumption depends on the day and type of fish. Many Orthodox Christians avoid vertebrate fish during the most restrictive fasts, while others may eat fish on regular fasting days. Shellfish, however, is generally avoided.

Yes, some traditional beliefs lead to food taboos for pregnant women, with some avoiding nutrient-rich foods like dairy products, meat, and leafy vegetables based on fears of complications during childbirth.

No, while the cuisine includes many vegetarian and vegan options, especially during fasts, meat dishes are central to the diet on non-fasting days and holidays. However, many of the vegetable dishes are naturally vegan.

Yes, Ethiopian Muslims follow Islamic dietary laws, which forbid pork and require meat to be halal. While they do not follow Christian fasting practices, some foods like camel meat, which are halal, are not eaten by Orthodox Christians.

While raw meat dishes like kitfo are popular in some parts of Ethiopia, their consumption is not universal. Some southern Ethiopian groups condemn the practice, which has historical links to health issues like tapeworms.