Berbere Paste

Title:
Berbere Paste

Yield:
1 Servings

Categories:
Condiments,
Ethnic




Ingredients:





    14    Dried Piquin Chiles, Stems


          -Removed


     2 tb Ground Cayenne


     2 tb Ground Paprika


     4    Whole Cardamom Pods


     2 ts Cumin Seeds


   1/2 ts Fenugreek Seeds


     1 sm Onion, Coarsely Chopped


     4    Cloves Garlic


     1 c  Water


   1/2 ts Ground Ginger


   1/4 ts Ground Allspice


   1/4 ts Ground Nutmeg


   1/4 ts Ground Cloves


     3 tb Oil






 Berbere is the famous, or should we say, infamous, scorching Ethiopian hot


 sauce, as well as the official language of Ethiopia. This highly spiced


 sauce is used as an ingredient in a number of dishes, a coating when drying


 meats, and as a side dish or condiment.


 


 Toast the cardamom, cumin, peppercorns and fenugreek in a hot skillet,


 shaking constantly, for a couple of minutes, until they start to crackle


 and pop.  Grind these spices to form a fine powder.


 


 Combine the onions, garlic, and 1/2 cup water in a blender and puree until


 smooth.  Add the chiles and the spices and continue to blend. Slowly add


 the remaining water and oil and blend until smooth.


 


 Simmer the sauce for 15 minutes to blend the flavors annd thicken.


 


 Serve sparingly as a condiment with grilled meats and poultry or add to


 soups and stews.


 


 From: The Whole Chile Pepper Book  ISBN 0-316-18223-0


 


 From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini