Berbere Lentils Recipe [Yemisir Wat] - Celebration Generation (2024)

FAQs

What do you do with Berbere spice? ›

Berbere is the flavor backbone of Ethiopian cooking, a cuisine built around heavily seasoned meats and stews served with a spongy flatbread called injera. Berbere ties all of that together, doing duty as a dry rub for meats, a seasoning for stews, lentils and grains — even as a tableside condiment.

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Berbere is a spicy chili blend, but its complex flavor isn't bursting with heat. While not exactly mild, berbere is mellowed by sweet, citrusy flavors.

The high contents of vitamin A and C in chili peppers can also help to ward off infection. By leaving the sauces to simmer over low heat for a prolonged time, berbere's anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, anti-infection, and antimicrobial and cough suppressant benefits can be attained.

Place ground chiles, paprika, and cayenne pepper into a bowl; stir. Add onion powder, ginger, cumin, coriander, cardamom, fenugreek, garlic powder, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg. Gently whisk together until thoroughly mixed. Store in an airtight container, preferably glass.

The foundation of the vast majority of Ethiopian meals is injera, a giant gray spongy pancake-like bread, upon whose strangely rubbery surface are served an array of foods, including multicolored mounds of spicy stews, vegetable curries and cubes of raw meat. Wot is Ethiopia's version of curry.

Ethiopian cuisine is not only healthy and nutritious, but also a great way to expose children to new flavors and teach them about another part of the world at the same time. What kids will love most about Ethiopian food is that you use your hands — exclusively! Though a tad messy at times, it's the perfect finger food.

Mealtime Etiquette

Traditional meals are eaten from a communal plate about the size of a pizza pan. Eat with your right hand - the left is considered unclean and therefore you should avoid using it if you can. Always wash your hands before and after the meal.

Peppery, Citrusy, Vibrant & Versatile. I love cooking with our Ethiopian Berbere blend due to its vibrant peppery flavor profile, complexity, and most of all, its versatility. It goes great on everything from simple roasted salmon to chicken kebabs to hearty grain salads (many of my weeknight staples).

Baharat creates a balance of flavors less spicy than berbere while providing a more mild heat that enlivens any dish.

Does berbere have turmeric? ›

This earthy-sweet seasoning blend is common in Ethiopian cooking. Paprika and allspice bring in smoky, savory notes while cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves punch up the sweet notes. Nutmeg, fenugreek, and turmeric add earthy flavors, and cayenne rounds everything out with a kick of heat.

Berbere is an Ethiopian spice mix that mainly consists of chili peppers, giving way to its hot, peppery, tangy flavor. Because the spice level is stronger than garam masala, use 2 teaspoons berbere for every 1 Tablespoon garam masala.

Berbere is a staple spice blend in Ethiopian cuisine. Made up of a number of spices that are roasted and ground, the primary components seem to be fenugreek seeds, cayenne pepper and paprika. The ratio of cayenne to paprika control just how hot the berbere becomes.