(CNN)Ethiopian food may still be a niche cuisine across the globe, but that might not be the case for long. From Washington, D.C. to London, Ethiopian restaurants are earning awards and accolades. Inside the country, the traditionally hearty cuisine is also being given a gourmet twist.
Scroll through the gallery below for an overview of some of the best Ethiopian fare, from traditional wots to fusion flare.

Gourmet Ethiopia – Antica Restaurants & Farm in Addis Ababa is one institution that has started experimenting with Ethiopian ingredients. Chef Yohannes Hailemariam has created several fusion dishes, including a lasagne made from teff.

Teff – Much of Ethiopian cuisine centers around teff, a popular grain. Ethiopian farmers winnow the crop to separate the seeds from the stalks. The seeds are then taken to the local mill. Because it is gluten-free, teff is growing in popularity abroad.

Injera – Teff is used to make injera, a tangy, spongy flat bread that is served with many dishes in Ethiopia, such as the variety of vegetarian and meat-based wots, or stews. The teff is fermented to give the bread its signature sour flavor.

Ethiopian pizza – Hailemariam has also created an Ethiopian version of pizza, which also uses teff. Because teff is gluten-free, the dough doesn’t have the same elasticity of traditional pizza dough. To combat this, he adds a touch of wheat flour and extra egg. He uses African ingredients and cooks the pizza in a clay oven.

Berbere – Many of Ethiopia’s rich stews are seasoned with berbere, a heady spice mix that blends garlic, red pepper, coriander, cloves and a variety of other ingredients. Tibs, a beef or lamb stew, is made from a paste using berbere, onion and clarified butter.

Coffee – Ethiopia is widely considered the birthplace of coffee, and as such, it’s no surprise that the beverage plays heavily in Ethiopia’s culture, tradition and economy. Guests are often treated to a coffee ceremony, and coffee accounts for about 25% of Ethiopia’s export earnings.
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