Ethiopian Chickpea Stew Recipes

SHIRO (ETHIOPIAN CHICKPEA SPREAD)

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and 2 teaspoons of the Spiced Butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, ginger and berbere and whisk until combined. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is fragrant and the mixture has thickened up slightly, about 2 minutes.
• Whisk in the chickpea flour, stirring briskly to avoid lumps; this will thicken quickly. Whisk in the tomatoes, 1 cup of water and the remaining 1 teaspoon Spiced Butter. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, adding more water as needed and stirring occasionally, until the mixture has thickened and the flour has cooked out, at least 10 minutes and up to 45 minutes for a stronger flavor. The shiro should have the consistency of thick buttermilk; it will thicken as it stands and cools. Season with salt and pepper and serve on injera if desired.
• Cut the butter into pieces and put in a saucepan with the cinnamon, garlic, ginger, rosemary, and turmeric. Turn the heat to low, let the butter melt, then simmer very gently (you don't want the milk solids to brown) for 30 minutes to infuse the flavors into the butter.
• Let the butter sit for 10 minutes until the milk solids settle at the bottom. Skim off any froth and pull out the cinnamon, garlic, ginger, and rosemary. Pour the butter into a large measuring cup--be careful to leave all the milk solids behind. Discard the solids. Then pour the butter into ice cube trays and freeze it. Once they're solid, you can put the butter cubes into plastic bags and keep them in the freezer for months.

SHIRO (GROUND-CHICKPEA STEW)

Steps:

• Prepare the spice mix: Place cinnamon, coriander, fenugreek, peppercorns, cardamom and allspice in a small heavy skillet set over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the smell is very aromatic and spices are lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Let cool.
• Transfer the mixture to a clean coffee grinder, add the chiles and onion flakes, and grind to a fine powder (or use a mortar and pestle). Transfer the ground spices to a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl, and sift. Regrind whatever large pieces remain in the sieve, and add them to the bowl with the ground spices. Add the paprika, ginger and nutmeg. Whisk well to combine, and transfer the mixture to an airtight jar. (Makes about 1/2 cup.)
• Prepare the shiro: Place the onion and garlic in a food processor, and pulse until very finely minced, stopping periodically to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to ensure even chopping. Set aside.
• Set a large Dutch oven or similar pot over medium-low heat. When the pot is warm, add oil, onion purée, 2 tablespoons berbere and a large pinch of salt. Stir to combine, then cover pot, and let aromatics cook gently while you prepare tomatoes.
• Place tomatoes in the food processor, and pulse until puréed. Add to onion mixture, and increase heat to high. When mixture boils, reduce heat to low, and whisk in chickpea flour. The mixture will be quite thick, like peanut butter. While stirring, slowly pour in 2 cups water in a thin stream to loosen the mixture. Keep stirring until the mixture becomes smooth and integrated.
• Increase heat to medium-high to bring shiro to a boil, then reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 5 minutes to cook off the raw taste of the chickpea flour and integrate all the flavors. Stir in the jalapeños and season to taste with salt.
• Serve immediately. (Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a few days. Store unused berbere in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months.)

DORO WAT (ETHIOPIAN CHICKEN STEW)

Steps:

• Combine chicken and lemon juice in a bowl and marinate until flavors meld, at least 15 minutes.
• Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, and let eggs stand in hot water for 15 minutes. Remove eggs from hot water, cool under cold running water, and peel.
• Melt butter over medium heat in a pot. Add onion, ginger, and garlic to the hot butter and cook until onion is soft, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Bring water and rice to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and water has been absorbed, 25 to 30 minutes. Keep warm.
• While rice cooks, stir paprika and berbere seasoning into the onion mixture, adjusting to taste. Add chicken to the pot and brown, 5 to 7 minutes per side. Pour in tomatoes and stir to combine. Pour in enough chicken broth to thin mixture out to stew consistency. Reduce heat and let simmer until chicken is no longer pink in the center, 20 to 30 minutes, adding hard-boiled eggs when stew has about 10 minutes of cooking time left.
• Pierce eggs using a fork to allow sauce to seep in. Continue to simmer 10 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper and serve over cooked basmati rice.

ETHIOPIAN SPICED CHICKPEA STEW

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Stir together the paprika, salt, allspice, black pepper, cardamom, cloves, coriander, cayenne, fenugreek, and ginger in a small bowl; set aside.
• 2. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. Toss chickpeas with a tablespoon of oil and spread out in a single layer on the foil. Roast chickpeas, shaking the pan occasionally to ensure even roasting, for 15 to 17 minutes or just until lightly golden; set chickpeas aside.
• 3. Meanwhile, remaining 2 Tbsp oil in a large stockpot set over medium heat. Add garlic, onion and ginger, and sauté for 6 to 8 minutes or until soft and starting to turn a golden color. Stir in reserved spice blend, and continue cooking and stirring frequently for about 2 minutes more or until spices are fragrant. Stir in tomato sauce and cook 2 minutes more.
• 4. Add broth, potatoes, carrots, and roasted chickpeas, and bring stew to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until potatoes and carrots are starting to get tender. Remove lid, and simmer another 20 minutes and the stew has thickened and carrots are very soft. Serve immediately.

ETHIOPIAN-STYLE CHICKPEA STEW

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F
• Stir together paprika, salt, allspice, black pepper, cardamom, cloves, coriander, cayenne, fenugreek (if using) and ginger in a small bowl; set spice mixture aside.
• Toss chickpeas with a tablespoon of the oil on a large rimmed baking sheet and spread out in a single layer. Roast chickpeas, stirring occasionally, until somewhat dried out and just golden brown, 16 to 18 minutes; set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add garlic, onion and chopped ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft and golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in reserved spice mixture and continue cooking, stirring constantly, until spices are toasted and very fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce and cook 2 minutes more.
• Stir in broth, potatoes, carrots and reserved chickpeas and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until potatoes and carrots are just tender, about 20 minutes. Uncover pot and simmer until stew is thickened and potatoes and carrots are very tender, about 25 minutes more. Ladle stew into bowls and serve with flatbread on the side. Squeeze a little lemon over the stew and place a dollop of yogurt on top if you like.
• Good served with rice, cous cous or pasta.
• Note:.
• You may leave the tomato sauce out and use broth instead(some people are allergic to tomatoes).
• For a twist, throw in a handful of raisins about 20 minutes before stew is done. It's a nice compliment.