How to Make Awaze Tibs: A Spicy and Delicious Ethiopian Beef Dish

 

If you love spicy food and beef, you will love awaze tibs. Awaze tibs is a traditional Ethiopian dish that consists of beef cubes cooked with onions, peppers, garlic, and a fiery red pepper paste called awaze. Awaze is made with berbere, a complex spice blend that gives Ethiopian cuisine its distinctive flavor and heat. Awaze tibs is a simple and satisfying dish that can be enjoyed with injera (Ethiopian flatbread) or rice.

In this article, we will show you how to make awaze tibs at home with easy-to-follow steps and tips. You will also learn about the ingredients and spices that make this dish so unique and flavorful. Let's get started!

What You Need to Make Awaze Tibs

To make awaze tibs, you will need the following ingredients:

• Beef: You can use any cut of beef that is suitable for stir-frying, such as ribeye, sirloin, or tenderloin. Cut the beef into thin slices or bite-sized pieces and season with salt and berbere spice blend. Berbere is a key ingredient in awaze tibs and many other Ethiopian dishes. It is made with dried red chilies, ginger, garlic, cardamom, onions, cloves, cinnamon, basil, and salt. You can buy berbere online or in specialty stores, or you can make your own with this recipe.
• Onions: You will need one large red onion or two medium ones, chopped finely. Onions add sweetness and aroma to the dish.
• Peppers: You will need about five green chilies, such as jalapenos or serranos, sliced thinly. You can also use red or yellow peppers for more color and flavor. Peppers add crunch and heat to the dish.
• Garlic: You will need about four cloves of garlic, sliced thinly or minced. Garlic adds depth and pungency to the dish.
• Niter kibbeh: This is Ethiopian clarified butter that is infused with spices such as fenugreek, cardamom, ginger, cumin, clove, black pepper, and turmeric. Niter kibbeh adds richness and fragrance to the dish. You can buy niter kibbeh online or in specialty stores, or you can make your own with this recipe.
• Awaze paste: This is the star ingredient of awaze tibs. Awaze paste is a spicy red pepper paste that is made with berbere spice blend, water, wine, honey, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, and salt. You can buy awaze paste online or in specialty stores, or you can make your own with this recipe.
• Tomatoes: You will need about two cups of whole peeled tomatoes, broken into bits. Tomatoes add freshness and acidity to the dish.
• Red wine: You will need about half a cup of red wine to deglaze the pan and add more flavor to the sauce. You can use any dry red wine that you like.
• Fresh rosemary: You will need about half a teaspoon of fresh rosemary leaves, minced. Rosemary adds a herbal note to the dish.
• Fresh ginger: You will need about one and a half teaspoons of fresh ginger root, peeled and minced. Ginger adds a zesty kick to the dish.

How to Make Awaze Tibs: Step-by-Step Instructions

Now that you have all the ingredients ready, let's see how to make awaze tibs in six easy steps:

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the beef slices and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides. Transfer the beef to a plate and set aside.
2. In the same skillet over medium-high heat, melt half of the niter kibbeh (two tablespoons) and add the onions and garlic. Cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden.
3. Add the berbere spice blend, fenugreek powder (if using), and salt and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are caramelized and the spices are fragrant.

4. Add the peppers and tomatoes and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the peppers are soft and the tomatoes are reduced.
5. Add the wine and bring to a boil. Then lower the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, until the sauce is thickened.
6. Add the beef and the remaining niter kibbeh (two tablespoons) and simmer for another 10 minutes, until the beef is tender and coated with the sauce.
7. Stir in the awaze paste, rosemary, ginger, and lemon juice and cook for another 5 minutes, until well combined.
8. Serve hot with injera or rice. Enjoy your delicious awaze tibs!

Tips and Variations for Making Awaze Tibs

Here are some tips and variations for making awaze tibs:

• You can adjust the spiciness of awaze tibs by adding the more or less berbere and awaze paste. You can also use milder peppers or omit them altogether if you prefer less heat.
• You can use lamb, chicken, or tofu instead of beef for awaze tibs. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
• You can add other vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, or green beans to awaze tibs for more nutrition and variety.
• You can serve awaze tibs with other Ethiopian dishes such as gomen (collard greens), misir wot (red lentil stew), or timatim salata (tomato salad).

The Benefits of Eating Awaze Tibs

Awaze tibs is not only a tasty dish but also a healthy one. Here are some of the benefits of eating awaze tibs:

• Awaze tibs are high in protein, which helps build and repair muscles and tissues.
• Awaze tibs are low in carbs, which makes it suitable for low-carb diets such as keto or paleo.
• Awaze tibs are rich in spices, which have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.
• Awaze tibs are a good source of iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamin B12, which are essential for blood health and immune function.
• Awaze tibs are a good source of fiber, which helps regulate digestion and cholesterol levels.

Conclusion

Awaze tibs is a spicy and delicious Ethiopian beef dish that you can make at home with simple ingredients and steps. It is a satisfying meal that can be enjoyed with injera or rice. It is also a healthy dish that is high in protein, low in carbs, and rich in spices. Try making awaze tibs today and experience the flavors of Ethiopia!