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Berbere Spice Blend
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The Ethiopian seasoning blend called berbere (pronounced bear-ba-ree) is sold in some well-stocked supermarkets and spice shops or can be ordered online. It’s easy enough, though, to make a simple homemade version using readily available spices. To pulverize the dried basil, use a mortar and pestle or pulse the leaves in an electric spice grinder.
1
Cup
10 minutes
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¼
cup smoked sweet paprika
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2
tablespoons sweet paprika
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2
teaspoons cayenne pepper
-
2
teaspoons ground ginger
-
2
teaspoons onion powder
-
2
teaspoons ground coriander
-
1½
teaspoons granulated garlic or garlic powder
-
1¼
teaspoons ground cardamom
-
1
teaspoon dried basil, ground or crushed to a powder
-
½
teaspoon ground cumin

Recipe
Ethiopian Chickpea Stew
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01In a small bowl, stir together all ingredients. The berbere will keep in an airtight container in a cool, dry spot for up to 2 months.
This is a good attempt, but it is very far from the real Berbere. If you make any Ethiopian sauces with this spice, you will be missing the target flavor wise. Better to get Berbere from an Ethiopian market or from a trusted online source.