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- Doro Wat (Ethiopian Spiced Chicken)

Doro Wat (Ethiopian Spiced Chicken)
Ingredients
- 3 lbchicken thighs
, cut into 1 inch pieces, or 3 chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
- 2 tbspfresh lemon juice
- 2 tbspniter kibbeh
- 2 tbspextra virgin olive oil
- 3 cchopped yellow onions
- 3 tbspbutter
- 1 tbspfinely minced garlic
- 1 tbspfinely minced ginger
- ¼ cethiopian berbere
- or use homemade berbere)
(highly recommended!
- 1 ½ tspsalt
- ½ ctej)
ethiopian honey wine
- 1 cchicken stock
- 4hard-boiled eggs
, pierced all over with fork about 1/4 inch deep
Directions
- 1
Place the onions in a food processor and finely mince them to a chunky puree. Set aside.Place the chicken pieces in a bowl and pour lemon juice over. Let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
- 2
Heat the niter kibbeh or butter along with the olive oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pot. Add the onions and saute, covered, over low heat for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.Add the garlic, ginger, and 1 tablespoon butter and continue to saute, covered, for another 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the berbere and the 2 remaining tablespoons of butter and saute, covered, over low heat for another 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.Add the chicken, broth, salt and wine and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.Adjust the seasonings, adding more berbere according to heat preference. Add the boiled eggs and simmer on low heat, covered, for another 15 minutes.
- 3
Half or quarter the eggs and arrange on the plates with the stew. Serve hot with injera, bread or rice.

Doro Wat (Ethiopian Spiced Chicken)
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Ratings & Reviews
Based on 125 ratings
Rating Breakdown
About this Recipe
Craving a culinary adventure that awakens your taste buds? This Doro Wat, Ethiopia's national dish, delivers an outstanding spicy chicken stew experience right in your kitchen.
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe shines by layering rich, complex flavors that develop over a slow simmer. It leverages traditional ingredients like niter kibbeh (spiced clarified butter) and Ethiopian berbere spice blend to create an incredibly aromatic and deeply satisfying sauce. The addition of hard-boiled eggs, pierced to absorb the incredible flavors, makes every bite a true delight.
What to Expect
Prepare for a truly outstanding main course that's bursting with flavor. You'll savor tender chicken bathed in a thick, vibrant, and spicy sauce, aromatic with ginger, garlic, and the signature warmth of berbere. The long cooking time ensures that every component is infused with the stew's distinctive character, creating a harmonious and comforting dish with a substantial feel, delivering 647 calories per serving.
Customization & Variations
Feel free to adjust the chicken to your preference; use chicken thighs cut into 1-inch pieces for a richer texture, or opt for chicken breasts cut into 1/2-inch pieces for a quicker cook. While homemade berbere is highly recommended for the most authentic flavor, a quality store-bought blend will also work beautifully. If tej (Ethiopian honey wine) is hard to find, a simple substitute of white wine mixed with 1 teaspoon of honey will achieve a similar depth.
Serving & Context
This Doro Wat is a truly satisfying main course, perfect for a special meal or a comforting dinner at home. Its robust flavors make it a memorable centerpiece.


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