Ethiopian Spicy Chickpeas Stew Yeshinbra Shiro Wot Recipes

SHIRO (ETHIOPIAN CHICKPEA SPREAD)

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and 2 teaspoons of the Spiced Butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, ginger and berbere and whisk until combined. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is fragrant and the mixture has thickened up slightly, about 2 minutes.
• Whisk in the chickpea flour, stirring briskly to avoid lumps; this will thicken quickly. Whisk in the tomatoes, 1 cup of water and the remaining 1 teaspoon Spiced Butter. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, adding more water as needed and stirring occasionally, until the mixture has thickened and the flour has cooked out, at least 10 minutes and up to 45 minutes for a stronger flavor. The shiro should have the consistency of thick buttermilk; it will thicken as it stands and cools. Season with salt and pepper and serve on injera if desired.
• Cut the butter into pieces and put in a saucepan with the cinnamon, garlic, ginger, rosemary, and turmeric. Turn the heat to low, let the butter melt, then simmer very gently (you don't want the milk solids to brown) for 30 minutes to infuse the flavors into the butter.
• Let the butter sit for 10 minutes until the milk solids settle at the bottom. Skim off any froth and pull out the cinnamon, garlic, ginger, and rosemary. Pour the butter into a large measuring cup--be careful to leave all the milk solids behind. Discard the solids. Then pour the butter into ice cube trays and freeze it. Once they're solid, you can put the butter cubes into plastic bags and keep them in the freezer for months.

SHIRO (GROUND-CHICKPEA STEW)

Steps:

• Prepare the spice mix: Place cinnamon, coriander, fenugreek, peppercorns, cardamom and allspice in a small heavy skillet set over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the smell is very aromatic and spices are lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Let cool.
• Transfer the mixture to a clean coffee grinder, add the chiles and onion flakes, and grind to a fine powder (or use a mortar and pestle). Transfer the ground spices to a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl, and sift. Regrind whatever large pieces remain in the sieve, and add them to the bowl with the ground spices. Add the paprika, ginger and nutmeg. Whisk well to combine, and transfer the mixture to an airtight jar. (Makes about 1/2 cup.)
• Prepare the shiro: Place the onion and garlic in a food processor, and pulse until very finely minced, stopping periodically to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to ensure even chopping. Set aside.
• Set a large Dutch oven or similar pot over medium-low heat. When the pot is warm, add oil, onion purée, 2 tablespoons berbere and a large pinch of salt. Stir to combine, then cover pot, and let aromatics cook gently while you prepare tomatoes.
• Place tomatoes in the food processor, and pulse until puréed. Add to onion mixture, and increase heat to high. When mixture boils, reduce heat to low, and whisk in chickpea flour. The mixture will be quite thick, like peanut butter. While stirring, slowly pour in 2 cups water in a thin stream to loosen the mixture. Keep stirring until the mixture becomes smooth and integrated.
• Increase heat to medium-high to bring shiro to a boil, then reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 5 minutes to cook off the raw taste of the chickpea flour and integrate all the flavors. Stir in the jalapeños and season to taste with salt.
• Serve immediately. (Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a few days. Store unused berbere in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months.)

ETHIOPIAN SPICY CHICKPEAS STEW (YESHINBRA SHIRO WOT)

Steps:

• Sauté the onion with oil, adding gradually half cup of water until tender; If the chickpeas are not spiced add the hot chili powder and stir for five minutes.
• Add one cup of water and boil.
• To the boiling sauce, sprinkle the chickpeas powder by stirring continuously until smooth and add one cup of water; stir continuously, (if needed add half cup of water); cook the stew for 25 minutes.
• Add to stew, false cardamom, black pepper and salt; cook until simmers.
• Serve it cold or warm with Injera, pita bread.
• Keep it in the fridge.
• P.S. (a)If preferred, mix the chickpeas powder with one or more cup of cold water in a bowl and pour to the boiling sauce; mix it well; stir continuously.
• (b) If needed, you may add 1 tablespoon purified butter (Nitir Kebe)* instead of the oil.
• * You will find these spices in Ethiopian or Indian shops/groceries.

DORO WAT (ETHIOPIAN SPICY BRAISED CHICKEN)

Steps:

• For the berbere:.
• Combine the tomato sauce, paprika, 1/4 cup red wine, grated gingerroot, ground ginger, red pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and allspice.
• Set the red pepper sauce aside.
• For the chicken:.
• In a large skillet cook the onion and garlic in hot oil until the onion is tender but not brown.
• Stir in the red pepper sauce, turmeric, and 1 tsp salt.
• Add the chicken pieces to the skillet. Spoon the onion mixture over the chicken pieces. Bring the mixture to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 30 minutes.
• Stir in 1/4 cup dry red wine. Cook, uncovered, about 15 minutes; turn chicken pieces often. Skim off the fat, and serve with Ethiopian Flat Bread.

ETHIOPIAN SPICY SPLIT LENTIL STEW (YIMSER WOT)

Steps:

• Bring to boil 4 cups of water in a medium pot. Rinse the lentils with fresh water and add to it. Cook for 5 minutes.
• Remove the foam with spoon and discard . Lightly drain the extra water in a container or a cup.
• Meanwhile, sauté the onion with ½ cup of water and one tablespoon of oil for 5 minutesor until tender.
• To the cooked onion add one cup of water, hot red chili powder (berbere), the rest of the oil, garlic and black pepper. Stir for 10 minutes.
• Combine the lentils and sauce. Mix well. If more water is needed, use the set-aside water. Cook the stew for 20 minutes until it simmers.
• Add false cardamom and salt to taste. Remove from heat. Serve it warm or cold.
• P.S. To make it mild, you may use tomato sauce.
• * You will find these spices in Ethiopian or Indian shops/groceries.

MISR WOT (ETHIOPIAN SPICY LENTIL STEW)

Steps:

• Rinse lentils in a sieve under cold running water and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, saute onion in canola oil over medium heat until the onions turn golden, about 10-15 minutes.
• Add ginger and garlic and saute until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add RawSpiceBar's Berbere spices, stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add lentils and cook for about 5 minutes.
• Add chopped tomatoes and broth, bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, until lentils are soft, about 25 minutes. Stir occasionally, adding more liquid if needed. Salt & pepper to taste.
• Serve with a dollop of yogurt and cilantro. Works perfectly with a side of injera or naan bread as well. Enjoy!

ETHIOPIAN SPICY PEAS POWDER STEW (YEATER SHIRO WOT)

Steps:

• Sauté the onion with oil, adding gradually half cup of water (5 to 10 minutes).
• Add the chili powder and stir for five minutes; Add 1 cup of water, leave it boil;.
• To the boiling sauce, sprinkle the peas powder by stirring continuously until smooth and add one cup of water; or mix the powder with cold water in a bowl and pour to the boiling water; mix it well; Stir continuously; and cook in a lower heat for at least 20-25 minutes; If more water is needed, add hot water.
• Add false cardamom and cook for 2 minutes;.
• Add black pepper and salt to taste and cook until it simmers very well.
• Serve it cold or warm with Injera, pita bread or any bread. with sour cream as a side dish.
• P.S. If needed, you may add 2 tablespoons of purified butter (Nitir Kebe) instead of the oil.
• * You will find these spices in Ethiopian or Indian shops/groceries.