What Is Niter Kibbeh?

Why it matters

Clarifying butter removes much of the water and milk solids; infusing it with aromatics and spices turns the fat itself into a seasoning. In dishes such as doro wat, that means flavor is built into every stage of the sauce rather than added only at the end.

Is ghee the same thing?

Plain ghee can provide the clarified-butter richness, but it lacks the aromatic profile of niter kibbeh. It is a practical fallback, not an exact substitute.