Berbere - Ethiopian spice mix 
Berbere is a chile and spice blend used to season many Ethiopian dishes. Because authentic berbere can be hard to find, here is therecipe.
1/2 cup ground dried New Mexico chiles
1/4 cup paprika
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
Preparation time:15 minutes
1/2 teaspoon fenugreek1/2 cup ground dried New Mexico chiles
1/4 cup paprika
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
Finely grind fenugreek seeds in an electric coffee/spice grinder. Stir together with remaining ingredients until combined well.
•Berbere keeps in an airtight container, chilled, 3 months.
•Berbere keeps in an airtight container, chilled, 3 months.
Berbere lentils
Also known as yemisir wot
.Serve with injera (the spongy flatbread).
Serves: 3
1-1/2 medium yellow onions, finely chopped
1/2 cup berbere spice blend, or to taste
1 tbsp puréed fresh, peeled ginger
2 tsp puréed fresh garlic
1 cup dried red lentils, washed
3 cups water + more if needed
1/2 tsp fine sea salt, or to taste
.Serve with injera (the spongy flatbread).
Serves: 3
Preparation time:15 minutes
Cooking time:40 minutes
1/3 cup canola oil1-1/2 medium yellow onions, finely chopped
1/2 cup berbere spice blend, or to taste
1 tbsp puréed fresh, peeled ginger
2 tsp puréed fresh garlic
1 cup dried red lentils, washed
3 cups water + more if needed
1/2 tsp fine sea salt, or to taste
In medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions. Cook 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in berbere, ginger and garlic. Cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add lentils. Cook, stirring, 1 minute.
Add 3 cups (750 mL) water. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring often and adding water if needed, until lentils disintegrate and mixture is a thick stew, about 30 minutes. Taste; season with salt.
Add 3 cups (750 mL) water. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring often and adding water if needed, until lentils disintegrate and mixture is a thick stew, about 30 minutes. Taste; season with salt.
Ethiopian injera pancake
Teff Injera is a fermented, usually yeast-risen, iron-rich flatbread that is prepared in a pan, like a thick crepe. It has a mildly sour taste, It is gluten-free and yeast-free.
The recipe can be prepared without fermentation —and the injera will not be sour.
If you want to prepare it this way, just skip the fermentation step, mix all ingredients in a bowl and cook.
Store in an airtight glass container in the fridge.
Serves: 4
2 cups pure water
1/2 tsp baking powder
Coconut oil for pan
1/4 tsp salt, or more to taste
The recipe can be prepared without fermentation —and the injera will not be sour.
If you want to prepare it this way, just skip the fermentation step, mix all ingredients in a bowl and cook.
Store in an airtight glass container in the fridge.
Serves: 4
Preparation time:15 minutes
Cooking time:30 minutes
1 1/2 cups teff flour2 cups pure water
1/2 tsp baking powder
Coconut oil for pan
1/4 tsp salt, or more to taste
Place Teff flour in a large glass bowl, add water and stir well.
Cover with a cheesecloth or towel and place on the counter and let it sit for 1 day/24hrs. Do not agitate or stir the batter, just leave it be.
After 24 hours, you’ll see that your batter is fermenting.
Bring a pan to medium heat, and very lightly, coat the pan with coconut oil.
Stir in the salt, and season with more taste if you like, until you can barely detect the saltiness. Also stir in the baking powder.
Your batter will deflate when you stir it.
Now pour enough batter into the pan to fill entire surface and cover with a lid, or if you don’t have a lid, use a cookie sheet.
It’s important to keep a lot of moisture in the pan or the Injera will crack.
You don’t flip Injera.
It takes about 5-7 minutes to cook Injera. You’ll see the top bubble like pancakes and start to dry out. When the top is dry, and the edges begin to curl/dry, use a spatula to remove the Injera from the pan.
Place on a plate and repeat, layering cooked Injera with parchment paper until you use up all the batter.
Cover with a cheesecloth or towel and place on the counter and let it sit for 1 day/24hrs. Do not agitate or stir the batter, just leave it be.
After 24 hours, you’ll see that your batter is fermenting.
Bring a pan to medium heat, and very lightly, coat the pan with coconut oil.
Stir in the salt, and season with more taste if you like, until you can barely detect the saltiness. Also stir in the baking powder.
Your batter will deflate when you stir it.
Now pour enough batter into the pan to fill entire surface and cover with a lid, or if you don’t have a lid, use a cookie sheet.
It’s important to keep a lot of moisture in the pan or the Injera will crack.
You don’t flip Injera.
It takes about 5-7 minutes to cook Injera. You’ll see the top bubble like pancakes and start to dry out. When the top is dry, and the edges begin to curl/dry, use a spatula to remove the Injera from the pan.
Place on a plate and repeat, layering cooked Injera with parchment paper until you use up all the batter.
Grilled cauliflower with red chili zhug yogurt - black garlic - hazelnut dukah and mint salsa verde
A head of cauliflower can be transformed into a super satisfying vegetarian dinner. This is a festive and fun recipe. It looks so dramatic on the table.
If you have no desire making the black garlic, you can buy it online. Black garlic
Serves: 4
1 gallon water
3 tablespoons salt, divided
1 tablespoon of cumin
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
Red chili zhug yogurt
Black garlic paste
Hazelnut dukah
Mint salsa verde
If you have no desire making the black garlic, you can buy it online. Black garlic
Serves: 4
Preparation time:1 hour 50 minutes
Cooking time:30 minutes
1 - 2-pound head cauliflower with leaves1 gallon water
3 tablespoons salt, divided
1 tablespoon of cumin
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
Red chili zhug yogurt
Black garlic paste
Hazelnut dukah
Mint salsa verde
Trim stem of cauliflower by removing the leaves, so it will sit level on a rimmed baking sheet. Bring 2 gallons water to a boil in a large stockpot over high. Stir in 2 1/2 tablespoons salt and 1 tablespoon of cumin until dissolved.
Add cauliflower to water; place a heatproof ceramic plate on top of cauliflower to keep it submerged. Boil until tender and a fork inserted in cauliflower meets no resistance, 12 to 13 minutes. Using a spider strainer, gently lift cauliflower from water, and let drain in spider, allowing water to drip back into pot. Place cauliflower, stem side down, on a rimmed baking sheet. Let stand until cauliflower has cooled slightly and is dry to the touch, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, Preheat oven to 500°F with oven rack in center of oven.
Brush 1 tablespoon olive oil over cauliflower to apply a thin, even layer. Sprinkle remaining teaspoon of salt over cauliflower. Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven, and carefully brush with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil.
Cover with Red chili zhug yogurt,
Black garlic paste,
Hazelnut dukah and
Mint salsa verde. Decorate with a few mint leaves and serve immediately.
Add cauliflower to water; place a heatproof ceramic plate on top of cauliflower to keep it submerged. Boil until tender and a fork inserted in cauliflower meets no resistance, 12 to 13 minutes. Using a spider strainer, gently lift cauliflower from water, and let drain in spider, allowing water to drip back into pot. Place cauliflower, stem side down, on a rimmed baking sheet. Let stand until cauliflower has cooled slightly and is dry to the touch, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, Preheat oven to 500°F with oven rack in center of oven.
Brush 1 tablespoon olive oil over cauliflower to apply a thin, even layer. Sprinkle remaining teaspoon of salt over cauliflower. Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven, and carefully brush with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil.
Cover with Red chili zhug yogurt,
Black garlic paste,
Hazelnut dukah and
Mint salsa verde. Decorate with a few mint leaves and serve immediately.
Moroccan spiced chicken breasts
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:20 minutes
1 tablespoon olive oil 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 tablespoons canola oil
For Moroccan spice mix:
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon hot chili powder
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Moroccan spice mix:
Mix ingredients together thoroughly.
Use as directed in Moroccan spiced chicken.
To prepare Moroccan spiced chicken breasts:
Blend the spice mix and olive oil in a shallow bowl. Pat chicken dry and dredge in the spice paste, turning to coat completely. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes. Heat canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
Sauté the chicken breasts until cooked through, about 6 minutes per side.
Serve with coucous or rice.
Mix ingredients together thoroughly.
Use as directed in Moroccan spiced chicken.
To prepare Moroccan spiced chicken breasts:
Blend the spice mix and olive oil in a shallow bowl. Pat chicken dry and dredge in the spice paste, turning to coat completely. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes. Heat canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
Sauté the chicken breasts until cooked through, about 6 minutes per side.
Serve with coucous or rice.
Moroccan spiced chickpea soup
Serves: 6
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time:1 hour
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnish1 large onion, medium diced
6 to 8 cloves garlic, pressed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 heaping teaspoon sweet paprika
1 (14.5-ounce) can chopped tomatoes
3 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed well
1 quart vegetable broth or reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon sugar
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 (5-ounce) package pre-washed baby spinach
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until the onions begin to turn translucent; lower heat if browning starts to occur. Add spices and saute a minute or so. Add tomatoes, chickpeas, broth, and sugar. Season with a couple pinches of salt and 10 grinds fresh pepper. Stir well. Chickpeas should be just covered with liquid. If level is shy, add some water so the chickpeas are just covered.
Bring to a simmer, then lower heat to low and gently simmer for 45 minutes.
Remove soup from heat. Use a potato masher to mash up some of the chickpeas right in the pot. Stir in the spinach and let heat through until wilted, just a couple minutes.
Season again, to taste, with salt and pepper.
Serve soup, drizzled lightly with extra-virgin olive oil, if desired.
Bring to a simmer, then lower heat to low and gently simmer for 45 minutes.
Remove soup from heat. Use a potato masher to mash up some of the chickpeas right in the pot. Stir in the spinach and let heat through until wilted, just a couple minutes.
Season again, to taste, with salt and pepper.
Serve soup, drizzled lightly with extra-virgin olive oil, if desired.
Skillet chicken and rice
A quick and easy dinner on the table in no time
Serves: 4
300 ml (10oz - 1can) condensed chicken broth;
125 ml (½ cup) water;
250 ml (1 cup) carrots, sliced;
250 ml (1 cup) green beans, cut;
2 ml (½ tsp) dried basil leaves, crushed;
2 ml (½ tsp) garlic powder;
175 ml (3/4 cup) uncooked regular long-grain white rice
1/2 cup steamed green peas
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:20 minutes
454 g (1Lb) skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into cubes; 300 ml (10oz - 1can) condensed chicken broth;
125 ml (½ cup) water;
250 ml (1 cup) carrots, sliced;
250 ml (1 cup) green beans, cut;
2 ml (½ tsp) dried basil leaves, crushed;
2 ml (½ tsp) garlic powder;
175 ml (3/4 cup) uncooked regular long-grain white rice
1/2 cup steamed green peas
In a non-stick skillet over medium high heat, cook chicken until browned, stirring often, set aside chicken.
Add broth, water, carrots, green beans, basil and garlic powder. Heat to a boil.
Stir in rice. Cover and simmer over low heat 5 minutes. Return chicken to pan.
Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until chicken and rice are done. Garnish with peas and serve.
Add broth, water, carrots, green beans, basil and garlic powder. Heat to a boil.
Stir in rice. Cover and simmer over low heat 5 minutes. Return chicken to pan.
Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until chicken and rice are done. Garnish with peas and serve.
