Kitfo

About This Recipe

Kitfo is one of Ethiopia's most prized dishes — finely minced raw beef seasoned with mitmita (a hot chili spice blend) and warmed niter kibbeh (Ethiopian spiced clarified butter). While traditionally served raw (tere), it can also be lightly cooked (leb leb). Often served with ayib (Ethiopian cottage cheese) and gomen (collard greens) on injera, kitfo is a dish reserved for celebrations and special occasions.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 500 gbeef tenderloin(very fresh, finely minced)
• 3 tbspniter kibbeh(Ethiopian spiced butter, warmed)
• 1 tbspmitmita spice
• 100 gayib(Ethiopian cottage cheese, or ricotta)
• 200 gcollard greens(cooked with garlic)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the beef

   Mince the beef very finely by hand or ask your butcher to do it. The texture should be almost paste-like.

2. 2

   Season

   Warm the niter kibbeh until just melted. Toss with the minced beef and mitmita. Mix thoroughly.

3. 3

   Cook (optional)

   For leb leb (lightly cooked), briefly warm the seasoned beef in a pan for 1-2 minutes. For tere (raw), skip this step.

4. 4

   Serve

   Mound the kitfo on a plate or injera. Serve alongside ayib and gomen.

Variations

• •

  Serve leb leb (lightly warmed) for those who prefer not to eat raw beef.

Storage

Must be eaten immediately. Do not store raw or lightly cooked beef.