Berbere -- Ethiopian Red Pepper and Spice Paste
photo by mickeydownunder
- Ready In:
- 30mins
- Ingredients:
- 17
- Yields:
-
2 cups
ingredients
- 4.92 ml ground ginger
- 2.46 ml ground cardamom
- 2.46 ml ground coriander
- 2.46 ml fenugreek seeds
- 1.23 ml ground nutmeg
- 0.61 ml ground cloves
- 0.61 ml ground cinnamon
- 0.61 ml ground allspice
- 29.58 ml finely chopped onions
- 14.79 ml finely chopped garlic
- 29.58 ml salt
- 44.37 ml dry red wine
- 473.18 ml paprika
- 29.58 ml cayenne pepper
- 2.46 ml fresh ground black pepper
- 354.88 ml water
- 14.79-29.58 ml vegetable oil
directions
- In a heavy frying pan, toast the ginger, cardamom, coriander, fenugreek, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and allspice over a low heat for a minute or so.
- Stir constantly until they are heated through and then remove from the pan.
- Next you need to combine the toasted spices, onions, garlic, 1 tbsp of the salt and all of the wine together into a smooth paste.
- I prefer to do this in a mortar and pestle but if you have a blender that is good with small quantities that may work too.
- Next mix the paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper and the rest of the salt in the frying pan and toast them over a low heat.
- Stir in the water 1/4 cup at a time and then add the spice and wine mixture.
- Stir vigorously and cook over the lowest possibly heat, stirring all the time, for an absolute minimum of 5 minutes and up to 10 or even 15 minutes if you can.
- Transfer the spice paste to a jar and pack it in tightly.
- Let the paste cool to room temperature and then cover with enough oil so it makes a film about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
- If you keep it covered with oil, the paste will last in the fridge for 5-6 months.
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Reviews
-
Great berbere! I think it is a very authentic recipe. I like it hotter, so I used 1 cup of sweet paprika, 3/4 cup of half sharp paprika, and 1/4 cup of XXX hot red pepper (no kidding, that's what it said on the package!). It was fiery! It made quite a bit. I used it in 3 ethiopian dishes so far (doro wot included) and I still have enough left to make maybe 6 more of the same dishes.
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
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Right now we are travelling around the world on our bicycles, so I only pop onto Zaar occasionally, when internet connections and time allow me to. If I don't reply to a message about one of my recipes, now you know why! Our trip may take several years so if it's urgent, it's probably better for you to post in the forums ;)
Good food is really important to me -- I am happy to pay extra for food that I feel is produced in a sustainable and ethical way and always try to eat using seasonal produce.
When we were in the UK we rarely shopped at supermarkets, trying instead to favour small producers, although we were very lucky in that we lived in London and there was lots of choice.
We also were fortunate enough to have a weekly organic veg box delivered to our door, filled with so many lovely vegetables for very little money. It really opened my horizons in terms of the variety of vegetables I eat. If you're in the UK, check out Riverford for a box supplier as they're amazing!
When I'm not eating I love to take pictures and travel with my husband.
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