Spice
Berbere
Also called Ethiopian berbere
What it is
A chilli-forward Ethiopian spice blend. Recipes are household-specific.
Origin
Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Flavour
Chilli, fenugreek, warm spice, sometimes a little sweet.
How to use it
Bloom in fat for wats. Heat level varies by brand.
Storage
Airtight, dark.
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What is Berbere?
A chilli-forward Ethiopian spice blend. Recipes are household-specific.
How do I use Berbere?
Bloom in fat for wats. Heat level varies by brand.
How do I store Berbere?
Airtight, dark.
What does it taste like?
Chilli, fenugreek, warm spice, sometimes a little sweet.
What can replace Berbere?
chilli plus paprika and a pinch of fenugreek if you have it (medium for Ethiopian wats). Heat without the spice mix. It will be a stew, not the same wat.
Nutrition
Per 100g · estimate · USDA FoodData Central averages and equivalent published tables. Values are typical, not lab tests of your shopping bag.
Heat: Hot
Recipes using it
Doro wat
ዶሮ ወጥ
Chicken in a dark berbere-onion sauce, a hard-boiled egg — the feast pot, not a weeknight curry.
2 hrMedium🌶️🌶️🌶️
Misir wat
ምስር ወጥ
Red lentils in berbere — the fasting pot that is also Tuesday dinner.
55 minEasy🌶️🌶️🌶️
Shiro wat
ሽሮ ወጥ
Ground chickpea stew — silky, berbere-warm, and the pot that looks like nothing until you taste it.
35 minEasy🌶️🌶️
Kitfo
ክትፎ
Minced beef, spiced butter and mitmita — traditionally raw. This is the briefly warmed home version unless you trust the butcher.
20 minEasy🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tibs
ጥብስ
Seared beef or lamb with onion, chilli and rosemary — the sizzling platter, not a stew.
27 minEasy🌶️🌶️
Atkilt wat
አትክልት ወጥ
Cabbage, potato and carrot in turmeric and a little berbere — the yellow vegetable pot.
45 minEasy🌶️