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Delicious ghee ready to spread on toast or ramp up your ordinary rice.
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Ethiopian Spiced Butter

Niter kibbeh is a must-have ingredient for tasty Ethiopian recipes. Spice-infused clarified butter delivers an incredible depth of flavor even when you're not cooking African food. Ramp up any saute with versatile ghee.
Makes about 1½ cups
Course Condiment
Cuisine African
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 24
Calories 143kcal
Author Imma

Ingredients

  • 1 pound (450g) unsalted butter
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons (45g) minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon (2g) cardamom (see notes)
  • 1 teaspoon (4g) fenugreek seeds
  • 1 teaspoon (3g) ground cumin
  • 1-2 tablespoons (15-30g) minced ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon (1g) grated nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon (2g) dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon (1-2g) ground turmeric
  • 5-6 basil leaves

Instructions

  • Place butter in a medium saucepan and melt it completely on low heat.
  • Simmer without letting it brown until the surface is completely coated with foam.
  • Skim off the foam as it rises to the surface until no foam remains. It should be transparent.
  • Add all spices: onions, garlic, cardamom, fenugreek, cumin, ginger, nutmeg, oregano, turmeric, and basil.
  • Continue cooking on low heat for 15-20 minutes.
  • Pass it through a cheesecloth or sieve. It's now ready to use. Store in a tightly covered glass container. It will last for 5-6 months at room temperature and up to a year in the fridge.

Notes

  • Cardamom pods have a unique flavor, a little different from the seeds. If you have whole pods, smash them, separate the seeds, and add both the pods and the seeds to the ghee.
  • Some recipes call for a small stick of cinnamon and a couple of whole cloves. It's very good.
  • Don't cover the saucepan while cooking the ghee so that excess moisture can escape.
  • You can make it in a slow cooker on low for 8 hours for a set-it-and-forget-it version. It may look burnt, but as soon as you strain it, it will be beautiful and nutty.
  • Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 32mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 483IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.4mg