BERBERE -- ETHIOPIAN RED PEPPER AND SPICE PASTE

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Berbere -- Ethiopian Red Pepper and Spice Paste image

This is a new discovery for me but I was quickly converted when this paste helped me make a wonderfully rich tomato sauce, full of deep flavours. Berbere spice paste has many variations. This is a mild form but you can certainly exchange some of the paprika for more cayenne pepper to make it hot and spicy. When you come to use it, in a tomato sauce for example, roast it for at least 5 minutes in your frying pan or sauce pot, adding water a few drops at a time to keep it from burning. The roasting helps the flavours develop.

Provided by Sackville

Categories     Ethiopian

Time 30m

Yield 2 cups

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
2 tablespoons finely chopped onions
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
2 tablespoons salt
3 tablespoons dry red wine
2 cups paprika
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups water
1 -2 tablespoon vegetable oil

Steps:

  • In a heavy frying pan, toast the ginger, cardamom, coriander, fenugreek, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and allspice over a low heat for a minute or so.
  • Stir constantly until they are heated through and then remove from the pan.
  • Next you need to combine the toasted spices, onions, garlic, 1 tbsp of the salt and all of the wine together into a smooth paste.
  • I prefer to do this in a mortar and pestle but if you have a blender that is good with small quantities that may work too.
  • Next mix the paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper and the rest of the salt in the frying pan and toast them over a low heat.
  • Stir in the water 1/4 cup at a time and then add the spice and wine mixture.
  • Stir vigorously and cook over the lowest possibly heat, stirring all the time, for an absolute minimum of 5 minutes and up to 10 or even 15 minutes if you can.
  • Transfer the spice paste to a jar and pack it in tightly.
  • Let the paste cool to room temperature and then cover with enough oil so it makes a film about 1/4 inch thick.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
  • If you keep it covered with oil, the paste will last in the fridge for 5-6 months.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 425.7, Fat 22.1, SaturatedFat 3.5, Sodium 7061.1, Carbohydrate 67.2, Fiber 40.7, Sugar 12.5, Protein 16.9

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