Berbere Spice (Ethiopian Spice Blend)

I live in a small town in Canada and unsurprisingly there isn’t a single grocery store here selling berbere spice. So I decided to make my own. Berbere is a spice blend that is an important ingredient in Ethiopian cuisine. It’s very easy to make and even in my small town, I was able to find all the required ingredients.

If you live in a major city, it probably won’t be difficult for you to find berbere spice in a grocery store. However, a homemade version might be cheaper in the long run as the ingredients will likely yield more berbere spice. You also get to control what ingredients go into the spice blend which is always a plus.

Related Recipes

 

berbere spice
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Berbere Spice (Ethiopian Spice Blend)

Berbere spice is a delicious spice mix that is essential to Ethiopian cuisine. This spice blend is used in Ethiopian stews such as doro wat, kai sega wat and misir wat but can be used to season other dishes; you don't just have to use it for Ethiopian food.
Prep Time7 minutes
Cook Time3 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Spices
Cuisine: African
Servings: 20 teaspoons
Calories: 6kcal
Author: Mavis K.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tbsp ground paprika
  • 1 tbsp ground cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp whole or ground cumin
  • 1 tsp whole or ground coriander
  • 1 tsp whole or ground green cardamom seeds
  • 1 tsp whole or ground fenugreek
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ½ tsp ground allspice
  • ½ tsp whole or ground cloves

Instructions

  • If using whole spices, toast them in a heavy skillet over high heat for about 3 minutes, turning regularly to prevent burning. Let the spices cool completely and then grind them using a spice grinder.
  • Once all the spices have been ground, add them all together and lightly grind them into an even mix.
  • Store in an airtight container and use as needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 6kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 32mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 565IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Sharing is caring!

No Comments

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Reply

Recipe Rating