Berbere Spice

Berbere Spice Blend — Blend No.11

Berbere is the fiery heart of Ethiopian cooking — a deep, warming chilli blend that turns slow-cooked stews and quick lentil dishes into something with real soul. It brings genuine heat alongside its warm spice, and it'll lift a midweek dinner in 30 to 40 minutes.

What it tastes like

Warm and properly spicy — chilli up front, backed by earthy cumin, coriander and fenugreek with sweet notes of allspice, clove and ginger. There's real heat here, balanced by depth rather than just burn.

Cook this tonight

• Stir into a slow-cooked beef or chicken stew (a Doro Wat–style dish) and serve with rice or flatbread.
• Toss with red lentils for a quick, warming misir wat — a brilliant veggie dinner.
• Rub onto chicken or lamb before roasting or grilling for a smoky, spicy kick.

How to use it

A little goes a long way — one to two teaspoons is plenty for a family meal for four or five, and with this one you can start light and build the heat to taste. Add it early in cooking so the chilli mellows and the warm spices open up. It's as good on slow-cooked meat as it is in a simple lentil pot, so experiment.

Scan for the recipe

Every pouch has a QR code on the back linking straight to our recipes, ready in 30 to 40 minutes.

Ingredients

Chilli, Celery Salt, Black Pepper, Cumin, Coriander, Fenugreek, Cloves, Allspice, Ajwain, Ginger, Cardamom, Nutmeg.
Allergen shown in bold.