Zigni Recipes

Steps:

• For the berbere, grind spices if necessary. Combine the spices and roast in a dry skillet on low heat, stirring constantly, for about 5-10 minutes, or until warm and just slightly roasted and fragrant - not browned. The proportions between hot and mild paprika powder should be adjusted to taste. I prefer 50/50, which gives a fairly hot result. The paprika powder should be of highest quality.
• While still hot, pour the berbere pepper into a jar and seal. Will keep for months in a cool and dark place.
• For the stew, brown the meat on high heat until brown, then add the onion, and eventually the garlic and 3 tbsp Berbere, which are NOT to become burnt.
• Deglaze with the wine (if using). Add the canned tomatoes with their liquid, the stock cubes and the tomato paste and let simmer very slowly until the meat is tender and the stew has thickened (½ hour to 2 hours or more, depending on the meat).
• Add salt, pepper and lemon to taste. Garnish with coriander and serve hot on Injera (Ethiopian flat bread). Also good with rice or potatotoes.

Steps:

• Sear meat in the oil, on high heat, until browned. You may like yours with more or less meat - your choice. And I have made this with ground meat (lamb).
• Add the onion and garlic and cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionaly and being careful not to burn the garlic.
• Add the large can of diced tomatoes, a couple of cups of water and the tomato paste. When the paste heats through it will stir in easily.
• Start with 2 Tb of the berbere and see how spicy and flavorful you want it. I use gobs, I love it.
• Simmer the zigni on medium - low for about an hour uncovered, or until it reached a consistency that you like.
• Serve with a generous scattering of chopped coriander (cilantro) on a bed of rice or with plenty of injira bread for scooping. The Ethiopian woman who taught my dad to make this also would serve this with halved boiled eggs laid on the zigni around the parameter of the serving dish. Very pretty.
• To make berberé spice mix:.
• Stir the spices (listed as ingredients, above) together and roast them in a dry skillet for about 7 minutes over med. low heat.
• Be careful to keep stirring (and not to let the spices burn) 'til roasted. You will cough while roasting the bebere!
• I keep mine in a mason jar in the freezer. It will keep well for a very long time in there.
• I didn't include the time to make the spice mix w/ this recipe as you may prefer to purchase it.