Niter Kibbeh

Name: Niter Kibbeh
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 16 servings
Cuisine: Ethiopian
Ingredients: 500g unsalted butter; 1 small onion, chopped; 3 cloves garlic, crushed; 1 tbsp fresh ginger, sliced; 1 tsp fenugreek seeds; 5 cardamom pods, crushed; 1 cinnamon stick; 1 tsp turmeric; 3 sprigs fresh sacred basil or oregano; 2 whole cloves

ንጥር ቅቤ (ni-TER ki-BEH)

Ethiopian Spiced Clarified Butter

⏱ Prep Time 45 min

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

Golden clarified butter infused with fenugreek, cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, and sacred basil, the aromatic foundation of Ethiopian cuisine.

Nutrition & Info

Fat 11.0g

Dietary

vegetarian gluten-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ dairy

Equipment Needed

heavy saucepan fine strainer cheesecloth jar

Presentation Guide

Vessel: glass jar

Garnishes: none

Accompaniments: used in all Ethiopian non-fasting cooking

Ingredients

500g unsalted butter
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tbsp fresh ginger, sliced
1 tsp fenugreek seeds
5 cardamom pods, crushed
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp turmeric
3 sprigs fresh sacred basil or oregano
2 whole cloves

Instructions

1
Cut butter into chunks and melt slowly in a heavy saucepan over the lowest possible heat without stirring.
2
As the butter melts and begins to foam, add onion, garlic, ginger, and all whole spices to the pot.
3
Simmer on very low heat for thirty to forty minutes. The butter will become clear and golden as milk solids sink.
4
The aromatics will infuse the butter with their fragrance. Never let the temperature rise high enough to brown.
5
Strain through cheesecloth-lined strainer into a clean, dry jar, discarding all solids and milk residue.
6
Store at room temperature for weeks or refrigerate for months. Use in place of regular butter in Ethiopian recipes.

💡

Did You Know?

The aroma of niter kibbeh simmering is considered so distinctive that Ethiopians abroad say it instantly transports them home.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

heavy saucepan
fine strainer
cheesecloth
jar

Garnishing

none

Accompaniments

used in all Ethiopian non-fasting cooking

The Story Behind Niter Kibbeh

Niter kibbeh is the aromatic backbone of Ethiopian cuisine, transforming ordinary clarified butter into something extraordinary through patient infusion with spices and herbs. This technique of spice-infusing butter predates written Ethiopian history and likely evolved as both a preservation method and flavor enhancement. The specific combination of fenugreek, cardamom, and sacred basil creates an aroma unique to Ethiopian cooking that distinguishes it from all other cuisines.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed prepared in advance, used in all non-fasting cooking 📜 Origins: Ancient Ethiopian

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