Berbere Spiced Red Lentils

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Berbere Spiced Red Lentils

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  • Show Name

So Many Seasonings

  • Show Name

So Many Seasonings

  • Show Date
March 13, 2023
  • Show Date
March 13, 2023
  • Cook

Karen Osborne

  • Cook

Karen Osborne

Description

This is my easy version of a traditional Ethiopian dish. Berbere is the name of a chili pepper and also the name of Ethiopia’s most used spice blend. Different families have their own recipes passed down for generations.They contain 12 – 25 ingredients.  Although they differ slightly, they all seem to include red chili peppers, fenugreek, and ginger, with additional warm spices. Berbere spice blend can be purchased or you can make your own. One recipe is below. You can also add this spice to hummus or plant-based yogurt to use on potatoes or greens, as a salad dressing or as a dip.

  • Ingredients

BERBERE SPICE BLEND

  • ✓ 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
  • ✓ 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ✓ 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
  • ✓ 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • ✓ seeds of 4 green cardamom pods
  • ✓ 4 cloves
  • ✓ 5 dried red chilies, seeds removed
  • ✓ 1 teaspoon salt
  • ✓ 3 tablespoons sweet paprika
  • ✓ 1/2 teaspoon ginger
  • ✓ 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ✓ 1 teaspoon turmeric

BERBERE SPICED RED LENTILS

  • 1 large red onion, finely diced

  • 2 cloves of garlic, finely minced

  • 6 roma tomatoes, chopped 

  • 1 teaspoon berbere spice (more to taste)

  • 1 cup dry red lentils

  • 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth or water

  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

 

BERBERE SPICED ROASTED CHICKPEAS

  • cooked chickpeas

  • berbere spice

  • salt (optional)

  • Instructions

BERBERE SPICE BLEND

  1. Toast the first 7 ingredients for about 3 minutes shaking the pan.

  2. Cool the ingredients in a bowl.

  3. Grind the toasted ingredients in a spice grinder or coffee grinder.

  4. Add the rest of the ingredients, and grind together.

  5. Store in an air-tight container.

 

BERBERE SPICED RED LENTILS

  1. Sauté the onions until translucent. (water sauté or dry sauté)

  2. Add the tomatoes, garlic and the berbers and cook to a paste.

  3. Add the water or broth and lentils, and bring it to a boil.

  4. Lower the heat and cover simmering the lentils stirring occasionally until the lentils are soft (up to 40 minutes).

  5. Add the salt and more berbere, and simmer uncovered for 2 - 5 more minutes stirring often (until thick).

 

BERBERE SPICED ROASTED CHICKPEAS

  1. Dry the chickpeas with a clean towel or paper towels.
  2. Place chickpeas in a bowl and stir in berbere spice and salt to desired flavor.
  3. Bake on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet at 400 for 45 minutes, stirring after every 15 minutes.
  4. Turn oven off, open the oven door and let the chickpeas cool for an hour.
  5. Store in an air-tight container.
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