Spiced Butter Niter Kebbeh 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.

ETHIOPIAN SPICED BUTTER (NITER KIBBEH)

Steps:

• Place butter in a medium saucepan and melt 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 while cooking until nothing more remains.
• It should look quite transparent. Now, add all the ingredients: onions, garlic, ginger cumin, cardamon, oregano, turmeric, nutmeg, and basil. Continue cooking on low heat for about 15- 20mins.
• Pass it through a cheesecloth or sieve. It is now ready to be used. Store in a tightly covered container for about a month in the fridge.

SPICED BUTTER (NITER KEBBEH)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, melt the butter slowly over medium heat; do not let it brown.
• Then bring butter to a boil.
• Stir in the onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg.
• Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered and undisturbed for 45 minutes.
• Milk solids on the bottom of the pan should be golden brown, and the butter on top will be transparent.
• Slowly pour the clear liquid into a bowl, straining through cheesecloth.
• It is important that no solids are left in the niter kebbeh.
• Transfer the kebbeh into a jar.
• Cover tightly, and store in the refrigerator.

NITER KIBBEH

Steps:

• Stir softened butter and koseret together in a medium bowl. Cover and let sit 1 day.
• Transfer butter to a small saucepan and heat over low until melted.
• Mash ginger and garlic into a paste in a mortar and pestle. (Or, smash on a cutting board with the side of a chef's knife.) Add to butter mixture.
• Coarsely grind cinnamon stick, beso bela, fenugreek, korerima, nigella seeds, cumin seeds, and peppercorns in a spice mill or with a mortar and pestle. (Alternatively, you can crush on a cutting board with a heavy saucepan). Add to butter mixture and once butter is completely melted, stir once to combine. Simmer gently, adjusting heat if needed, 30 minutes.
• Remove butter mixture from heat and carefully skim away milk fats and any spices that have accumulated on the surface; discard. Strain niter kibbeh through a cheesecloth-lined fine-mesh sieve into an airtight container. Cover and chill. Do ahead: Niter kibbeh can be made 3 months ahead. Keep chilled.

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.