DISH RESEARCH · Bread
Ambasha
Also known as: ሕምባሻ
The Eritrean Embassy contribution to Embassy Direct presents hembashe, also called ambasha, as a celebration bread associated with Ethiopia and Eritrea.

About Ambasha
The Eritrean Embassy contribution to Embassy Direct presents hembashe, also called ambasha, as a celebration bread associated with Ethiopia and Eritrea. This wholewheat rendition uses fresh yeast and a mixture of ground fenugreek, coriander and cardamom seeds.
The seeds supply the bread’s aromatic flavour, supported by salt. The published ingredient list also includes egg and offers oil or butter; this selection uses butter, including the finishing spread described in the method.
A knife pattern decorates the round bread before covered pan cooking. It is served in wedges, warm or cold, with tea suggested alongside for breakfast or afternoon tea.
Allergens in this recipe
Contains: Wheat (gluten), Egg, Milk.
Other allergen details are unconfirmed.
Ingredients vary by restaurant. Confirm your allergens with staff before ordering.
Ingredients in Ambasha
Embassy Mission in Pretoria’s wholewheat hembashe with ground seeds.
- Wholewheat flourBase
- WaterLiquid
- Fresh yeastBinder
- Ground fenugreek seedSeasoning
- Ground coriander seedSeasoning
- Ground cardamom seedSeasoning
- SaltSeasoning
- EggBinder
- ButterCooking medium
- TeaAccompaniment · Optional
Ingredient details & uncertainties
Allergen information is incomplete. Unconfirmed details do not establish that an allergen is absent.
- Wholewheat flour: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Wheat (gluten) source-confirmed
- Water: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Dough40/50 and finishing55 allocations consolidated.
- Fresh yeast: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Broader yeast candidate for literal fresh baking yeast; carrier unknown.
- Ground fenugreek seed: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Broader seed candidate; actual ground form.
- Ground coriander seed: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Broader seed candidate; actual ground form.
- Ground cardamom seed: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Broader cardamom candidate; actual ground seed.
- Salt: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Egg: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Egg source-confirmed. Top-list46 required, placement unprovided.
- Butter: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Milk source-confirmed. Actual butter option plus method55 finishing; Milk positive.
- Tea (optional): Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Actual suggested cup of tea37, prepared tea additions unprovided.
Origins & food traditions
Eritrea; Ethiopia association in the attributed source; no exclusive invention claim.
Cuisines & regions
- Eritrean
- Ethiopian
- Ethiopian CuisineCatalogue link pending review
- Tigrayan CuisineCatalogue link pending review
AI-generated illustration of one possible presentation. Recipes and ingredients vary; the image does not establish allergen content.