Berbere recipe (Ethiopian spice blend) - Rhubarbarians (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Trish Bozeman · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

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Homemade berbere recipe! Berbere spice is a blend from Ethiopia very common in Ethiopian cuisine. Fiery chiles and warming spices make this perfect for soups, stews, or as a seasoning!

Berbere recipe (Ethiopian spice blend) - Rhubarbarians (1)

Aaaaaaaaand Global Feasts Ethiopia recipes officially begin! First up, the heart and soul of Ethiopian wots, a homemade berbere recipe. Berbere is a fiery Ethiopian spice blend used throughout so much of Ethiopian cooking. It consists largely of ground red chiles, onion powder, fenugreek, and paprika.

So, I believe this is a pretty authentic berbere recipe. I scoured the interwebs and found SO many different recipes with different ingredients! I sort of blended all of the recipes I found together to make my own version, which I have really fallen head over heels for. Mine didn't end up that rich red hue that I have seen in photos, but I'm still a mega-fan.

Berbere recipe (Ethiopian spice blend) - Rhubarbarians (2)

It's really no secret around here that I am absolutely gaga for a good Indian dish. I go through curry powder like crazy in my house, and keep a stock of naan in the freezer at all times. THIS berbere though, it's like a deeper, more elevated curry powder. I can honestly say that I may have replaced my go to curry powder with berbere!

Berbere recipe (Ethiopian spice blend) - Rhubarbarians (3)

Recipe

Berbere recipe (Ethiopian spice blend) - Rhubarbarians (4)

Berbere recipe (Ethiopian spice blend)

Trish Bozeman

Homemade berbere recipe! Berbere spice is a blend from Ethiopia very common in Ethiopian cuisine. Fiery chiles and warming spices make this perfect for soups, stews, or as a seasoning!

4.50 from 2 votes

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Course Other

Cuisine Ethiopian

Servings 1 cups

Calories 611 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 10 whole cloves
  • 16 medium dried spicy red finger chiles, stems removed
  • 3 teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
  • 2 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 4 tablespoon onion powder
  • 6 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon garlic salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Combine fenugreek seeds, peppercorns, and cloves in a small frying pan. Heat over medium high heat until fragrant and toasted, about 3 minutes. Do not burn. Set aside.

  • Grind the red chiles in a spice grinder or coffee grinder. Add the toasted spices and grind until fine.

  • In a medium bowl, combine the chile mixture with the remaining ingredients. Whisk together until well blended.

  • Store in an airtight container.

Notes

Here's a note from a reader about berbere:

"If you want that “red hue” add gochugaru pepper..or even gochujang sauce."

Nutrition

Calories: 611kcalCarbohydrates: 131gProtein: 26gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 7127mgPotassium: 3851mgFiber: 40gSugar: 45gVitamin A: 26950IUVitamin C: 1043mgCalcium: 463mgIron: 23mg

Keyword spice, vegan

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Still to come this week for Global Feasts Ethiopia: misir wot, a spiced lentil tomato stew. I used lots of this awesome berbere in it!

If you make this recipe, please let us know on social media or in the comments below! Leave a star rating in your comment or tag us on Instagramwith #Rhubarbarians.

Thank you so much for reading and supporting Rhubarbarians and the brands that we recommend. If you’re looking for a group of people cooking vegetarian recipes through the seasons, join us on Facebook in our vegetarian and vegan recipes group!

Hope you try this fantastic spice blend on some vegetarian dishes! Berbere recipe (Ethiopian spice blend) - Rhubarbarians (5)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Comments and questions

  1. M. Ange Vlasblom

    Berbere recipe (Ethiopian spice blend) - Rhubarbarians (10)
    Do you mean garlic cloves or cloves like in...the black ones on the picture?Thank you 🙂

    Reply

    • Trish Bozeman

      Cloves like the spice.

      Reply

  2. Kristen Wood

    This sounds like the ULTIMATE spice blend! Yum!

    Reply

  3. tunnaika

    If you want that "red hue" add gochugaru pepper..or even gochujang sauce.

    Reply

    • Patricia Bozeman

      Awesome. Thanks for the tip!

      Reply

  4. Sarah | Well and Full

    I love homemade spice blends! They make your kitchen smell so nice 🙂

    Reply

    • Patricia Bozeman

      Me too Sarah! Thanks!

      Reply

  5. ruthmeaney

    Hit submit too soon!!! Sounds amazing 🙂 looking forward to the rest of the dishes.

    Reply

Berbere recipe (Ethiopian spice blend) - Rhubarbarians (2024)

FAQs

Berbere recipe (Ethiopian spice blend) - Rhubarbarians? ›

Use it straight up as a dry rub for baby back ribs, steaks on the grill -- even for oven-roasted chicken. Sauté minced onions and garlic with vegetable oil, stirring in berbere. Thin with more oil or with broth, then use as a marinade. Blend with softened butter then spread over hot-off-the-grill corn on the cob.

How do you use Berbere spice blend? ›

Use it straight up as a dry rub for baby back ribs, steaks on the grill -- even for oven-roasted chicken. Sauté minced onions and garlic with vegetable oil, stirring in berbere. Thin with more oil or with broth, then use as a marinade. Blend with softened butter then spread over hot-off-the-grill corn on the cob.

What is Ethiopian Berbere spice made of? ›

Berbere (Amharic: በርበሬ bärbäre, Tigrinya: በርበረ bärbärä) is a spice mixture whose constituent elements usually include chili peppers, coriander, garlic, ginger, Ethiopian holy basil (besobela) seeds, korarima, rue, ajwain or radhuni, nigella, and fenugreek. It is a key ingredient in the cuisines of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

What is the difference between Eritrean and Ethiopian Berbere? ›

In both countries, wats are common and are eaten with teff-based injera. Berbere is a primary seasoning in both countries. He said the only differences are due to climate: Eritrea is at a lower elevation, so the food there uses more warm-weather vegetables like tomatoes, eggplants, etc.

What is the famous spice in Ethiopia? ›

Berbere. If there is only one spice to have for Ethiopian stews and stir-fries, it should be Berbere.

Is Ethiopian Berbere healthy? ›

Each of these flavorful spices offers some dietary advantages when added to meals, which makes them a great addition to any diet. Berbere provides essential vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C and potassium. Additionally, its chili peppers offer a natural source of capsaicin.

Why is berbere so good? ›

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).

What is a crucial ingredient in Ethiopian cuisine? ›

Fenugreek seeds are ground and used as a key ingredient in the Ethiopian berbere. The seeds are also used to make injera and niter kibbeh. Cardamom is the third most expensive spice after saffron and vanilla. The Ethiopian cardamom is known as "false cardamom".

How long does berbere last? ›

Store berbere in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to one year. Like all spices, use within six months for the best flavor. Berbere does not "go bad," but rather loses its flavor over time and will eventually take on a bland, woody flavor.

Does berbere have cumin? ›

In Amharic, one of Ethiopia's national languages, 'barbare' is the word for 'hot' or 'pepper', which is a clue to the dominant flavor profile for this blend that traditional consists of chili peppers, cumin, garlic, coriander, korarima, rue, nigella, and fenugreek.

What is the most beautiful Ethiopian tribe? ›

Ethiopias suri tribe is one of the most beautiful african tribes to photograph! Taking photos of the Suri Tribe in Ethiopias South West near Tulgit and Kibish is always an absolute dream. Every trip and every day is unique and they welcome you with open arms and LOVE being in front of a camera!

What did the Ethiopians call Africa? ›

The ancient name of Africa was Alkebulan. Alkebu-lan “mother of mankind” or “garden of Eden”.” Alkebulan is the oldest and the only word of indigenous origin. It was used by the Moors, Nubians, Numidians, Khart-Haddans (Carthagenians), and Ethiopians.

What are the four kinds of Ethiopian? ›

The Oromo, Amhara, Somali and Tigrayans make up more than three-quarters (75%) of the population, but there are more than 80 different ethnic groups within Ethiopia.

What is the king of all spices? ›

Black Pepper is considered the 'king of spices' and rightfully so. Unlike its perennial companion, salt, which is easily available in any nook and corner of the world, the black pepper owes its origins to Kerala – a state in South India.

What is the oldest spice in the world? ›

Cinnamon is an ancient spice that predates the recorded history of culinary applications of all spices. As such, it has been dubbed the “world's oldest spice”, which may be a warranted title, knowing that because it was found to be included in Egyptian embalming recipes.

What is the queen of spices in the world? ›

Cardamom contains many medicinal properties and provides great taste and fragrance when added to refreshing drinks. Therefore, it is regarded as the "Queen of Spices".

What does berbere taste like? ›

What Does It Taste Like? 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. Since it contains multiple ingredients, each with its own complex flavor and fragrance, berbere has no universal flavor profile.

Is berbere the same as Garam Masala? ›

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.

What do you use mixed spices powder for? ›

The blend is used in many types of cookery from savoury to sweet, and is used a great deal in breads, cakes and pastries, especially sweet ones. The blend includes cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and pimiento (allspice) among others. In savoury cooking, mixed spice is an essential ingredient in meat stews throughout Europe.

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