Berbere is an Ethiopian spice blend often used in meat and vegetable stews. It's a warm blend that adds a spicy, rich undertone to dishes.
It's very versatile, though. In addition to marinating meat or using it as a base in a soup, it can be used as a topping for fruit or salads.
Like Ras el Hanout and Baharat, individual blends vary in regions and families. Typically, a berbere spice mix contains chilis, paprika, onion, ginger, fenugreek, nutmeg, cumin, and clove.

Recipes with Berbere Spice
Berbere can be used in a variety of ways. It's used in some wonderful Ethiopian dishes and in a surprising number of other ways. Here are a few of our favorite recipes using berbere.
- Berbere Lentils with a Poached Egg from The Cook Report
- Berbere Potato Bean Stew from Monkey & Me
- Berbere Roasted Kabocha Squash from Vegan Richa
- Berbere Spiced Chicken Recipe from This Healthy Table
- Spiced Ethiopian Chickpeas from Babganosh
- Sweet Potato Roast with Parsley Pesto from Diethood
While it's easy to make a berbere spice blend, it does require quite a few spices.
This is the blend we recommend; if you don't have one of the ingredients listed in smaller quantities, you can substitute it for something else or leave it out. The paprika and chili are non-negotiable though!


Berbere Spice Recipe

Here's how to make your own berbere spice mixture at home. It's an Ethiopian spice used as a rub for meat, in stews, and sprinkled on salads.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup paprika
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
- 1 teaspoon ground fenugreek
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a bowl and stir to combine.
- Store in an airtight container (preferably glass as it will stain plastic)
Joel says
Thanks for this post.