Niter Kebbeh Spiced Ghee
Elevate your culinary creations with Niter Kebbeh, a fragrant Ethiopian spiced ghee that infuses any dish with layers of rich, aromatic flavor. This traditional clarified butter is simmered with a medley of warm spices like turmeric, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon, along with fresh ginger, garlic, and onion for a deeply complex and nutty essence. Perfect as a base for stews, sautés, or even drizzled over roasted vegetables, this recipe is a must-try for adventurous cooks looking to recreate authentic Ethiopian flavors at home. Simple to prepare yet bursting with character, Niter Kebbeh is a versatile ingredient that can be stored in your fridge for weeks, adding a touch of golden, spiced magic to your meals whenever inspiration strikes.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 500 grams Unsalted butter
- 1 small, finely chopped Onions
- 3 crushed Garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon, finely grated Ginger
- 1 teaspoon Ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon Ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon Fenugreek seeds
- 1 small Cinnamon stick
- 4 whole Cloves
- 1 teaspoon Nigella seeds (optional)
Instructions
Place the butter in a saucepan over medium heat and allow it to melt completely.
Reduce the heat to low and skim off any foam that rises to the top with a spoon.
Add the chopped onion, crushed garlic, and grated ginger to the melted butter.
Stir in the turmeric, cardamom, fenugreek seeds, cinnamon stick, cloves, and nigella seeds (if using).
Allow the mixture to simmer gently on low heat for 20–25 minutes. This allows the flavors from the spices and aromatics to infuse into the butter while the milk solids settle to the bottom of the pan.
Keep an eye on the butter to ensure it does not burn. The butter will become golden and develop a nutty aroma as it clarifies.
Once done, remove the saucepan from the heat and let it cool slightly.
Strain the butter through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth into a clean, heatproof container. Discard the solids left behind in the cheesecloth.
Let the niter kebbeh cool completely before storing it in an airtight container. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a month or frozen for longer storage.
Use the niter kebbeh as a flavorful base for cooking or as a finishing touch for your favorite dishes.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3750 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 430.6 g | 552% | |
| Saturated Fat | 250.5 g | 1252% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 1107 mg | 369% | |
| Sodium | 103 mg | 4% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 23.1 g | 8% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 7.5 g | 27% | |
| Total Sugars | 4.5 g | ||
| Protein | 7.1 g | 14% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 243 mg | 19% | |
| Iron | 6.0 mg | 33% | |
| Potassium | 516 mg | 11% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
