Berbere is a red chili pepper spice mixture, it is a key ingredient to Ethiopian and Eritrea food. Berbere is also essential spice to Somali food and a must for East African pantry. Berbere is used a basis for flavoring anything from rub, marination, stews, soups, vegetables dishes, to garnishing food, it is so easy to make, it also keeps very well so you can make large batch and keep it in your pantry or share it with your friends.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon coriander
- 1 table spoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
- 3 whole cloves
- 1/2 cup cayenne pepper
- 1/2 cup paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon ginger powder
- 1/4 ground cinnamon powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Directions:
In a skillet over medium heat, toast the, cumin, cardamom, whole cloves, cardamom, peppercorns, fenugreek for 2 minutes.
Remove from heat and let it cool.
finely grind the toasted spices in a spice grinder or a mortar and pestle.
mix in the remaining ingredients until combined.
Store in a airtight jar.
Berbere as a hot sauce: add few table spoons of Berbere mixture add oil/lemon/water to form a paste. Serve with your meal.
Assalamu alaykum dear sister
I really like the mix spices. Thank you for posting it
Can you (by chance) post how to make Ethiopian spicy sauce or do you know any website where i can get the recipe?
Thank you dear,
May Allah reward you!
Wa Alaikumu Salaam,
here is a link for Ethiopean recipes http://ethiopianrecipes.net/.
Insha Allah in the future I will post some.
BarakaAllahu feeki uhkti
by the way beautiful pictures you took from the berbere spice.
Salaam!!
I’m about to jump up and down on my bed! I am in LOVE with berbere spice and live in the middle of no where, no ethnic stores anywhere near me. This is amazing, I always thought I had to buy the berbere ready made but I can make it???????
YES!!!!!
Thank you so much!
Amal, I felt the same, when I found out too.
Hi, Is there really supposed to be half a cup each of cayenne and paprika or is that a typo? Cheers, Kel
Hi Kel,
Yes half a cup, it sounds kind of weird but to be honest it suppose to stay in your pantry and use it for all kinds of things, for a rub, as marination or a dip. This doesn’t last that long if you use it daily. Therefore I make it in huge quantities. Hope this helps.