Doro Wat
-3kg onions, finely diced
-1 large chicken, preferably free-range, trimmed and cut into serving pieces
-100 ml white vinegar
-1 lemon, juiced
-100 ml olive oil
-3 Tbsp niter kibbe, or regular butter
-6 Tbsp berbere (Ethiopian spice blend)
-12 eggs, hard-boiled
Mixed spices:
2 Tbsp cardamom seeds
2 Tbsp nigella seeds
2 Tbsp ajowan or fennel seeds
1 Tbsp dried African basil (optional)
2 tsp black peppercorns
2 Tbsp salt
1) Place the onion in a large, heavy-based pot, cover with a lid and cook over low–medium heat, stirring occasionally. Do not add any oil or liquid. Cook for about 1 hour, until the onion has reduced.
2) While the onion is cooking, mix the vinegar and lemon juice together and place the chicken pieces in the liquid for 10–15 minutes, then drain.
3) Combine the ingredients for the mixed spices in a mortar and grind to a powder.
4) When the onion has reduced, add the olive oil, niter kibbeh and berbere and stir well. Add the chicken. Bring the mixture to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Stir the spices into the stew and add extra salt if needed. Simmer until the chicken is cooked through, making sure the onion does not stick to the bottom of the pot. Spoon out some of the excess oil that settles on top.
5) Cut vertical grooves into the hard-boiled eggs to ensure the flavour seeps in. When the stew is cooked, add the eggs and turn off the heat. The doro wat can be served immediately with injera but is even better the following day when the spices have worked their magic.
Doro wat is traditionally served with injera, a 'spongy' flat bread made from teff flour.
