Teff - the grain behind injera
Teff is a small grain that has been grown in Ethiopia for generations, and it is the traditional base for injera. Unlike wheat, rye and barley, teff contains no gluten naturally.
The injera at Balinjera is made fresh from teff flour. So the injera itself is gluten free - and that is not a special adaptation we made, it is simply the traditional way to prepare it.
What on the menu does contain gluten
It is worth being precise: the fact that the injera is gluten free does not make the whole menu gluten free. Dabo, for instance, is a regular wheat-based Ethiopian bread. The nefro salad is also wheat-based.
So the simple recommendation is this: if you avoid gluten, order the dishes served on injera, and skip the dabo and the nefro salad.
If you have a significant sensitivity
The information here refers to the ingredients of the dishes themselves. If you have a significant medical sensitivity or celiac disease, we recommend calling us before you come and asking directly - that way we can answer precisely about the dish you have in mind.
It is better to ask in advance than to rely on a general assumption, and we are glad to help you choose.