By Laura Coffee, Marketing & Owner Services Manager, Co-op Owner
Berbere (pronounced behr-beh-ray) is an aromatic Ethiopian spice blend. While there are regional variations in the composition, the blend we used comes from Frontier Co-op and contains Organic Paprika, Sea Salt, Organic Cayenne, Organic Fenugreek, Organic Coriander, Organic Cumin, Organic Black Pepper, Organic Cardamom, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Clove, Organic Ginger, and Organic Turmeric. This versatile and intensely flavorful blend is excellent in soups and stews, on grilled or fried meats, with roasted veggies, marinaded tofu, and so much more! It does have a spicy kick, but that does not overwhelm the complex flavor profile. If you would like to receive a sample or participate in future installments, you can sign up through the CRDL.
Berbere Tomatoes & Greens
- 4 cups chopped greens
- 2 large tomatoes
- 1 medium onion
- 2 tbsp fat
- 2 tsp Berbere
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups cooked white rice (optional)
A few quick notes before we get started: I used collard greens in this recipe, but you can substitute any variety of kale or cooking green that you prefer. For the fat, I recommend bacon fat, butter, ghee, or coconut oil, something that is solid at room temperature. You can use olive oil but the finished dish won’t be quite as rich. Berbere does have some noticeable heat to it. If you prefer a less spicy dish you can try cutting the spice to only one teaspoon, though this will cut down on the intensity of the other flavors as well. You’ll see that rice is listed as an optional ingredient. Adding the rice will turn this into a more filling (main dish) type of recipe. If you leave out the rice, I would consider this a side and serve it with other items, such as flatbread and a protein of your choice.
Slice your onion into thin strips, and saute in the bacon fat/coconut oil/etc over medium heat until slightly translucent. Once the onions have begun to soften, coarsely chop the tomatoes and add them, along with the greens, to the pan. Allow to cook, covered, until the tomatoes start to break down and greens reach their desired tenderness. Add the spices, and rice if using, and stir until the whole thing is hot and fragrant. Remove from heat and serve immediately.