Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 4, 2026

Genfo

Genfo, also known as ga’at or marca is a stiff porridge-like substance that is normally formed into a round shape with a hole in the middle for the dipping sauce, a mixture of butter and red peppers, or pulses such as sunflower, seed, nut and flax.

Last revised
Jun 4, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
270 w
Citations
6
Source
Genfo/Ga'at
Genfo with berbere sauce.
TypePorridge (volcano)
CourseTraditionally: breakfast; or for lunch and dinner.
Place of originEthiopia,1 Eritrea2
Region or stateAmhara, Tigray, Oromia, Eritrea
Serving temperatureHeated; in some regions, with cool yogurt
Main ingredientsBarley or wheat flour, water

Genfo (Amharic: ገንፎ, romanizedgänfo), also known as ga’at (Tigrinya: ጋዓት, gaʻat) or marca (Oromo: marqaa) is a stiff porridge-like substance that is normally formed into a round shape with a hole in the middle for the dipping sauce, a mixture of butter and red peppers, or pulses such as sunflower, seed, nut (Carthamus tinctorius) and flax (Linum usitatissimum).3

Genfo shares many similarities with the Arab asida. Genfo is made with barley or wheat flour and to cook it the flour and water are combined and stirred continuously with a wooden spoon. Genfo is presented in a large mound with a hole in the center, filled with a mixture of niter kibbeh and berbere.45 The porridge may be eaten with the hands or with a utensil.6

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Kloman, Harry (2010-10-04). Mesob Across America: Ethiopian Food in the U.S.A. iUniverse. ISBN 9781450258678.
  2. Kloman, Harry (2010-10-04). Mesob Across America: Ethiopian Food in the U.S.A. iUniverse. ISBN 9781450258678.
  3. "Food". Encyclopaedia Aethiopica. Vol. 2. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag. 2003.
  4. Mild Frontier the differences between Eritrean and Ethiopian cuisines come down to more than spice.
  5. Harry Kloman: Mesob Across America: Ethiopian Food in the U.S.A. Iuniverse, 2010, ISBN 978-1-4502-5866-1. (online)
  6. How Genfo Breaks the Mold of Ethiopian Food Expectations, Eater, Tammie Teclemariam, February 17, 2016.