What Is Berbere?
Berbere is a chile-forward Ethiopian and Eritrean spice blend used to build the deep red flavor of stews such as doro wat and zigni.
What it tastes like
There is no single universal formula. Blends commonly combine dried chiles with warm spices and aromatics, and the heat level can vary dramatically by maker. The important point for home cooks is to treat berbere as a complete seasoning system rather than simply as hot pepper powder.
How to use it
Berbere benefits from brief cooking in fat and moisture, but it can become bitter if scorched. Add it after onions and aromatics have softened, loosen the pot with a little water or stock, and let the spice form a fragrant red paste before building the stew.
Recipes that use berbere
Buying berbere
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Ethiopian and Eritrean groceries are ideal because turnover is often better and heat levels may be easier to discuss. If local sourcing is difficult, search for Ethiopian berbere on Amazon.