Kitfo
Finely minced beef seasoned with spiced clarified butter and mitmita chili blend, served warm and tender, often with cottage cheese and mild greens. It is a celebration dish in Ethiopia.
Kitfo with Ayibe.: Milo.G, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Where it comes from
Kitfo is closely associated with the Gurage people of southern Ethiopia and is now served nationwide. It can be eaten raw, lightly warmed or well done, depending on taste.
Explore the cuisine of Ethiopia.
Recipe
Make Kitfo at home
Ingredients
- 500 g lean ground beef
- 3 tbsp niter kibbeh (spiced clarified butter)
- 1 tbsp mitmita
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup ayib (fresh cottage cheese)
- 1/2 cup cooked collard greens (gomen)
- injera for serving
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
How it's made
- Warm the niter kibbeh gently in a skillet over low heat.
- Add the mitmita, cardamom and salt and stir for 30 seconds.
- Add the beef and cook, stirring, only until it is cooked to your liking; many prefer a light warming, others cook it through.
- Stir in the lemon juice.
- Serve in a mound with ayib and cooked greens on the side.
- Eat scooped up with injera.
Variations
- Kitfo leb leb: lightly warmed.
- Gored gored: cubes of beef in a similar seasoning.
Cook’s tip: Always use very fresh, high-quality meat and cook it fully if you or guests are pregnant, elderly or young children.
Related dishes
InjeraBreads · Ethiopia
Doro watMain dishes · Ethiopia
ShiroMain dishes · Ethiopia
KoftaMain dishes · Iran
About this page
Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.
Photo credit
- Kitfo with Ayibe.: Milo.G, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)