Doro Wat II

Ethiopian stew. Snagged this from over on the Rime Cuisine echo. I'm in the process of making it even as I type and it's *real* good so far. A sweet, rich, hot stew. The sweetness comes from the huge amount of onions used. The richness from the butter (it definitely ain't health food!). The heat from the "berbere" a seasoning mix of spices based on cayenne peppers. Made in the proportions below it's most definitely hot, but nothing someone who can handle jalapenos can't handle. The heat and spiciness could be handled by reducing the amount of berbere or even better making the berbere with a lesser amount of Cayenne so you retain the other spices. The effect is kinda off in the general direction of a Mexican Mole. You mop it up with Injera, a flat bread. I'm using pita bread and flour tortillas instead. Not sure how acceptable that is, but I didn't feel like making Injera. Will post a recipe for Injera tomorrow.

If you haven't tasted Ethiopian food, you'll be surprised at the unique flavor of Doro Wat. Even if you have a chance to sample it at one of the growing numbers of Ethiopian restaurants in large cities.

It's a dish worth trying at home. To eat it the Ethiopian way, pass around a tray of injera (flat bread), and place a large platter of wat in the center of the table so everyone can reach it. Tear off pieces of injera with your right hand. Fold the bread around bits of stew and eat, without touching you fingers to either the stew or your mouth (a trick that requires practice!).
 * Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Ingredients

 * 2 to 3 lbs chicken
 * 9 oz tomato paste
 * 3 stick butter
 * 10 hard boiled eggs slightly scored
 * 3 lbs onion fine chopped
 * 2 large cloves garlic minced (or 2 tsp. powder)
 * 1 tsp ground black pepper
 * 3 heaping tbsp berbere

Directions

 * 1) Remove skin from the chicken and score each piece slightly with a knife so the sauce can penetrate.
 * 2) In a large stew pot, melt the butter, then saute the onions and garlic for five minutes.
 * 3) Add berbere, followed by tomato paste, stirring occasionally while the mixture simmers about 15 minutes.
 * 4) A piece at a time, stir in the chicken, coating well with the sauce.
 * 5) Continue to simmer, adding enough water to maintain the consistency of a thick soup.
 * 6) When chicken is half done, after about 20 minutes, put in the hard boiled eggs.
 * 7) Cover and continue cooking until the chicken is tender.
 * 8) The dish is ready when the oil has risen to the top.
 * 9) Add black pepper and let sit until slightly cooled.
 * 10) Serve with injera.