Niter kibbeh ✦

Niter kibbeh (beurre clarifié épicé éthiopien)

What it is

The butter is simmered rather than merely melted, with korarima, koseret and besobela — three Ethiopian aromatics with no real substitute — until the water has gone and the spices have given their oil up to the fat. What is strained off keeps for months at room temperature, which is the whole point in a kitchen without refrigeration.

In the kitchen

Start the wot with it rather than finishing with it — the flavour is fat-soluble and needs those first minutes with the onions. One tablespoon per two onions is the working ratio.

Goes with

Berbere Fenugreek Turmeric Ginger Garlic Onion Lentils Cardamom

Same species

Clarified butter Ghee Laminating butter (dry butter, 84%) Raw-milk butter Smen (fermented Moroccan butter)

Also used with

Teff Teff flour

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