Authentic Niter Kibbeh Ethiopian Spiced Clarified Butter Recipes

AUTHENTIC NITER KIBBEH (ETHIOPIAN SPICED CLARIFIED BUTTER)

Steps:

• Toast the whole spices over medium heat in a dry skillet for a few minutes until very fragrant. Be careful not to scorch the spices or they will become bitter. Set aside.
• Place all the ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring it to an extremely low simmer. Continue to simmer over low for at least one hour or up to 90 minutes. BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO BURN THE BUTTER. If it burns it will be bitter and there is no salvaging it.
• Pour everything through a fine-mesh cheesecloth. (No need to skim off the foam, everything will be removed during straining.) Pour the niter kibbeh into a jar, let it cool, and cover so that it is airtight. It will keep at room temperature for several weeks, in the fridge for at least a couple of months, and even longer in the freezer (it will be hard in the fridge and freezer, let it come to room temp for easy scooping). Makes about 2 cups.

NITER KIBBEH--ETHIOPIAN SPICED CLARIFIED BUTTER

Steps:

• Place the butter in a small saucepan and melt over low heat. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer on the lowest possible heat for about 1 hour.
• Pour the clear golden liquid off the top leaving all the solids in the bottom of the pan. Strain through cheesecloth if necessary. Discard solids.
• Store in the refrigerator or freezer and use as needed.

NITER KIBBEH: ETHIOPIAN SPICED BUTTER

Steps:

• Melt the butter on low heat in a large pot. Blend together the bishop seeds, cardamom seeds and black cumin until powder form using coffee grinder or food processor. Pour into the butter. Add the dried koseret. Bring to a boil then simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool. When room temperature, skim the frothy milk solids off of the top. Carefully pour the clear, clarified butter into a large storage container.
• This recipe was provided by a professional chef or restaurant and may have been scaled down from a bulk recipe. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

ETHIOPIAN BUTTER

Steps:

• Toast the cardamom, cloves and cinnamon in a dry pan over medium heat until they are aromatic, about a minute.
• Cut the butter into cubes.
• Toss everything into a heavy pot and turn the heat on low. Let this come to a bare simmer and cook gently for at least 30 minutes. We cooked ours at least an hour. It is vital that the milk solids do not burn. If they do, you have ruined the butter. Watch for browning, and when you see it, turn off the heat.
• Strain through cheesecloth and store in a clean glass jar. It'll last 6 months in the fridge, at least a week on the counter, and forever in the freezer.