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Eritrean / Ethiopian Beef Stew -- Tsebhi Sga or Key Wet

Recipe #106194 | 1½ hours | 30 min prep | SERVES 8 (Change Servings)

RECIPE BY: Mahteme

I grew up in Asmara, Eritrea eating and making this dish regulary. This dish is one of the most popular dishes in the Eritrean and Ethiopian community.

Posted on: Dec 15, 2004

Ingredients

  • medium red onion
  • 1/2 cup spiced butter (also know as tesmi or kbe)
  • 1/4 cup chili paste (also know as d'lk, a hot chili mixed with water, oil and spices)
  • cup canned crushed tomatoes
  • lbs beef (preferably a beef brisket or any cut of your favorite beef)
  • water
  • Directions

    1. 1
      Chop onions into small fine pieces.
    2. 2
      Heat a shallow deep pan, about 3 to 4 inches deep.
    3. 3
      Add half of the spiced butter.
    4. 4
      Once butter is melted add the chopped onions and cook it until the onion is caramelized.
    5. 5
      Be sure not to burn the onions, keep stirring!
    6. 6
      Add the chili paste to the cooked onions.
    7. 7
      Mix it well by adding a drop of water at a time as needed.
    8. 8
      Cook for about 15 minutes by adding a drop of water as you stir to stop it from drying.
    9. 9
      Add tomatoes and cook for about 30 minutes more stirring it often and adding a drop of water as needed to prevent it from drying out.
    10. 10
      Cut beef into small bite sizes, about ½ inch cubes.
    11. 11
      Add beef to the cooking paste and cook covered for about 20 minutes or until it is cooked fully.
    12. 12
      Add the remainder of the spiced butter and mix well.
    13. 13
      Let cook of about 5 more minutes.
    14. 14
      Depending on your personal desire, you may add more water to bring it to the consistency you like.

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    Featured Reviews for This Recipe

    From: Chef #593082

    On Sep 20, 2007

    I anonymously prepared this dish for an Ethiopian family newly arrived to Canada as a welcome to the neighbourhood gift. They wondered if an Ethiopian had prepared it! Thanks for the recipe. It is delicious. Kathy

    0 people found this review helpful

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  • From: Sackville

    On Apr 17, 2005

    Wow, what a rich and wonderful stew. I was a bit worried in the early stages because the sauce was quite dry and I kept on having to add water to keep it from burning but once I added the tomatoes it got a bit better and during the last 20 minutes of cooking with the beef the gravy really started to form. When I added the butter it made an absolutely lucious sauce! This is a dish that takes a bit of time because you have to closely watch it during the first two stages and you're constantly stirring but it's definitely worth it. For the spiced butter I used Spiced Butter for Ethiopian Cooking and for the chili paste, I made up a batch of Berbere paste as I thought it sounded like the same thing.

    6 people found this review helpful

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  • From: Lizard SF

    On Oct 2, 2006

    I was able to reduce some of the cooking times — I did steps 8 and 9 about half as long as suggested — and it still came out fine. I used chili garlic paste mixed with sweet thai chili paste and it was a bit too much, so I ended up doubling the tomato to balance it. If you use the right kind of chili paste, it will probably work better. Regardless of the changes, this came out wonderful. It smelled marvelous, and waiting for it to finish stewing was torturous. It was very easy to make, and I strongly recommend it.

    1 person found this review helpful

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  • Read all 3 reviews
    Nutrition Facts

    Serving Size 1 (201g)

    Recipe makes 8 servings

    The following items or measurements are not included below:

    1/4 cup chili paste

    Calories 270
    Calories from Fat 140 (51%)
    Amount Per Serving %DV
    Total Fat 15.6g 23%
    Saturated Fat 8.7g 43%
    Monounsaturated Fat 4.7g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 0.7g
    Trans Fat 0.0g
    Cholesterol 96mg 32%
    Sodium 218mg 9%
    Potassium 571mg 16%
    Total Carbohydrate 6.2g 2%
    Dietary Fiber 1.0g 4%
    Sugars 3.0g
    Protein 25.8g 51%
    Vitamin A 410mcg 8%
    Vitamin B6 0.7mg 34%
    Vitamin B12 3.4mcg 56%
    Vitamin C 7mg 12%
    Vitamin E 0mcg 1%
    Calcium 25mg 2%
    Iron 2mg 14%

    detailed view...

    how is this calculated?

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