B is for Berbere
American food uses salt and pepper.
Italians use garlic.
Indian food requires tumeric.
In Ethiopia? It’s berbere. And you find it everywhere.
Berbere (pronounced “bur-bur-ay”) is a special Ethiopian blend of spices, including chili peppers, ginger, garlic, and other spices. It’s hot, but it’s not a kick-you-in-the-teeth kind of hot. It’s more like a warmth that fills your mouth and your belly. Unless you use too much. Then it can be a bit much.
Kind of like a good Scotch, I guess.
It’s used in almost everything. It is served in your breakfast. And in your lunch. And in your dinner. There’s even a paste that’s made out of the spice and you dip sliced bread as an appetizer. I wouldn’t be surprised if they figured out a way to use it in a dessert. Come to think of it, it might be worth trying with chocolate. I mean, you can pair other peppers with chocolate. And that’s considered a delicacy. So why not give berbere and chocolate a try? What’s the worst that could happen?
I have to admit that I wasn’t the biggest fan of berbere at first. But, man, it has certainly grown on me. I love coming into our house after we’ve had Ethiopian food and the aroma of berbere just hits you in the face. It’s such a comforting feeling, honestly.
Now we mix it in foods that aren’t even Ethiopian. We’ve had it in eggs, tuna salad, and canned ravioli. And it’s a really good way to add some flavor to some store-bought spaghetti sauce.
It’s such a versatile spice, but it’s a distinctly Ethiopian flavor. It permeates everything. And I love it more than I ever thought I would.
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I love Ethiopian food! It’s so good. there spices and sauces are good indeed!
We love introducing Ethiopian food to our friends! It’s unfortunate that so few people know how great the food is.
I have never tried Berbere before – I tried looking for it at our grocery store and couldn’t find it. Is it something I would have to order online?
It’s hard to find in the store, unfortunately. We buy it from a local Ethiopian restaurant. I’m trying to find the best place to purchase online. As soon as I figure it out, I’ll share the link!