Ethiopian Pantry Starter List: What to Buy First
To cook Ethiopian food at home, start with three things: niter kibbeh, berbere and mitmita. Between them they appear in 14 of our 16 Ethiopian recipes, from doro wot to kitfo. Add mitin shiro, korerima and mekelesha next, and you can cook almost every everyday Ethiopian dish.
Add the starter three to your cart
Step 1: The starter three
- Niter Kibbeh (ንጥር ቅቤ), Ethiopian spiced butter. In 11 of our 16 recipes: doro wot, kitfo, tibs, genfo, key wot and more. What is niter kibbeh?
- Berbere (በርበሬ), the chili blend behind the red stews. In 10 of our 16 recipes: doro wot, misir wot, shiro wot, key wot, the firfirs and more. What is berbere?
- Mitmita (ሚጥሚጣ), the hot chili blend that goes on the side or onto finished food. In 8 of our 16 recipes: kitfo, ayib, tibs, genfo, gomen and more. What is mitmita?
Step 2: Add these next
- Mitin Shiro (ምጥን ሽሮ), pre-spiced shiro powder for shiro wot, the everyday vegan stew. Mitin shiro vs nech shiro
- Korerima (ኮረሪማ), Ethiopian cardamom, whole seeds you grind just before cooking. For kitfo, ayib and kitfo dulet. What is korerima?
- Mekelesha (መከለሻ), a warm finishing blend with no chili, added in the last minutes of a stew such as key wot. What is mekelesha?
Step 3: Round out your pantry
- Nech Shiro (ነጭ ሽሮ): mild shiro with no berbere, the one many families make for their kids
- Ird (እርድ): Ethiopian turmeric, for mild yellow alicha stews
- Tikur Azmud (ጥቁር አዝሙድ): black cumin, for spice blends and bread
- Nech Azmud (ነጭ አዝሙድ): ajwain seed, for breads, stews and spice blends
- Senafich (ሰናፍጭ): ground mustard seed, served on the side with tibs and kurt
For breakfast
- Genfo (ገንፎ): flour for genfo, the warm porridge served with niter kibbeh and berbere
- Beso (በሶ): roasted barley flour you mix with water or milk. What is beso?
What you can cook with each
| Dish | What you need from us |
|---|---|
| Doro wot | Berbere, niter kibbeh |
| Shiro wot | Mitin shiro, berbere |
| Misir wot | Berbere |
| Key wot | Berbere, niter kibbeh, mekelesha |
| Kitfo | Niter kibbeh, mitmita, korerima |
| Tibs | Niter kibbeh, berbere, mitmita |
| Ayib | Niter kibbeh, korerima, mitmita |
| Genfo | Genfo, niter kibbeh, berbere, mitmita |
| Chechebsa | Niter kibbeh, berbere, mitmita |
| Gomen | Mitmita |
See all of our Ethiopian recipes.
Questions about stocking an Ethiopian pantry
What spices do I need for Ethiopian cooking?
Start with berbere and mitmita, plus niter kibbeh, the spiced butter that finishes most dishes. Then add korerima and mekelesha. Our Ethiopian spice guide explains each one.
Can I cook Ethiopian food vegan?
Yes. Many Ethiopian dishes are vegan. Use oil in place of niter kibbeh, and start with mitin shiro and berbere. See our Ethiopian vegan food guide.
How long do the spices keep?
Our spices keep for over a year in a cool, dry place, so a starter pantry lasts.
Is there an Ethiopian grocery store online?
Yes. Yegna Mart is an online Ethiopian pantry. Everything is family-made and shipped across Canada and the U.S., with free shipping over $100 CAD in Canada and $59 USD in the U.S.