Ethiopian red chicken stew (doro wat)

A wat or wet is an Ethiopian red stew that uses the red chilli-spice mix called berbere and spiced ghee called nit’r kibbeh, and begins with a rich onion base. It's best made a day ahead to allow the flavours to intensify. This dish is traditionally served on top of injera bread.

• serves

  8

• prep

  50 minutes

• cook

  2:15 hours

• difficulty

  Mid

Ingredients

• 3 kg onions, finely chopped (see Note)
• 1 large chicken, preferably free-range
• 100 ml white vinegar
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 100 ml olive oil
• 3 tbsp nit'r kibbeh (see Note)
• 6 tbsp berbere (see Note)
• 12 hard-boiled eggs, peeled

Mixed spices

• 2 tbsp cardamom seeds
• 2 tbsp nigella seeds
• 2 tbsp ajwain or fennel seeds
• 1 tbsp dried African basil leaf (optional)
• 2 tsp black peppercorns
• 2 tbsp salt

Instructions

Place the onion in a large, heavy-based saucepan, cover with a lid and cook over low–medium heat, stirring occasionally. Do not add any oil or liquid. Cook for about 1 hour or until the onion has reduced by two-thirds.

While the onion is cooking, remove the skin from the chicken and cut into portions, trimming off any fat. (Traditionally in Ethiopia, we cut it into 21 portions.) Mix the vinegar and lemon juice together and sit the chicken pieces in the liquid for 10–15 minutes, then drain.

Grind the mixed spices together to a powder using a mortar and pestle.

When the onion has reduced, add the oil, nit'r kibbeh and berbere and stir well.

Add the chicken and its liquid, bring the mixture to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.

Stir the mixed spice powder into the stew.

Simmer until the chicken is cooked through, stirring occasionally, making sure the onion does not stick to the bottom of the pan. Skim off the oil from the surface, as necessary.

Make incisions in the eggs to ensure the flavour seeps in. When the stew is ready, add the eggs and remove from 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.

Cook's notes

• I find it easier to chop such a large quantity of onions using a food processor.

• Nit’r kibbeh is a spiced ghee (clarified butter) used in Ethiopian and Eritrean cooking. Here's a recipe to make your own. 

• Berbere is an Ethiopian chilli-spice blend, available online and from African grocers and specialty stores. If 6 tablespoons of berbere its too much heat for you to handle, reduce the amount – you can always make it hotter next time.

• Dried African basil leaf is available online or from African grocers.

• Injera is an unleavened bread (like a pancake), made from teff flour, eaten with curries and stir-fries in Eritrea and Ethiopia. Here's a recipe to make your own.

Photography, styling and food preparation by China Squirrel. 

(Plate and bowl from Stem.) 

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.