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Awaze Tibs Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 54 reviews

Awaze Tibs is a flavorful Ethiopian dish featuring tender seared beef sautéed with aromatic spices, including the fiery berbere blend, garlic, ginger, and niter kibbeh. This spicy and savory stew is typically served with traditional injera bread, making it a hearty and authentic East African meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Beef and Seasoning

  • 2 pounds beef, chopped into bite-sized pieces (ribeye recommended, lamb optional)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Cooking Fats and Spices

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
  • 1 tablespoon niter kibbeh
  • 2 tablespoons berbere spice blend (adjust to taste)

Vegetables and Aromatics

  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1–2 spicy chilies (jalapeno recommended), chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chopped ginger
  • 3–4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 cup tomato sauce (use 2 cups for a saucier version, or substitute beef stock)
  • 1 tomato, chopped

For Serving

  • Injera or warmed pita bread, rice if desired

Instructions

  1. Season Beef: Generously season the beef pieces with salt and pepper to enhance the flavor before cooking.
  2. Sear Beef: Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat. In batches, add the beef pieces and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until nicely browned. Remove the seared beef from the pan and set aside in a bowl.
  3. Heat Oil and Niter Kibbeh: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to the pan along with the niter kibbeh. Heat until fragrant but not smoking, preparing the pan for sautéing the aromatics.
  4. Sauté Onion and Chilies: Add the chopped onion and chilies to the pan and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions soften and release their sweetness.
  5. Add Garlic, Ginger, and Berbere: Stir in the chopped garlic, ginger, and the berbere spice blend. Cook for 1 minute while stirring constantly to bloom the spices and develop depth in the flavor.
  6. Add Tomato Sauce and Tomatoes: Pour in the tomato sauce followed by the chopped fresh tomato. Stir everything together and let it simmer gently for 5 minutes to meld the flavors and slightly thicken the sauce.
  7. Simmer Beef: Return the seared beef to the pan, stir to coat with the sauce, then reduce heat to a low simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes or until the beef is cooked through and tender.
  8. Serve: Traditionally, serve the Awaze Tibs hot alongside injera bread. Alternatively, you can serve with warmed pita or steamed rice.

Notes

  • For a saucier dish, increase tomato sauce to 2 cups or substitute some sauce with beef stock.
  • Adjust the amount of berbere spice blend and chilies according to your preferred spice level.
  • Niter kibbeh, a spiced clarified butter, adds authentic flavor but can be substituted with regular clarified butter or ghee if unavailable.
  • Use ribeye for tender beef; lamb can be used as an alternative for a different flavor profile.
  • Cooking beef in batches prevents overcrowding the pan, ensuring a proper sear.

Keywords: Awaze Tibs, Ethiopian beef stew, Berbere spice, Niter Kibbeh, Spicy beef dish, Ethiopian cuisine

Find it online: https://tastybynova.com/awaze-tibs-recipe/