Doro Wat (Ethiopian Spicy Chicken Stew)
Ethiopia's national dish. chicken slow-simmered in berbere spice, deeply caramelized onions, and clarified butter (niter kibbeh). Served with injera.
- Total time:
- 2 hr
- Servings:
- 6
- Per serving:
- 540 kcal
- Cost per serving:
- $4.80
- Difficulty:
- medium
Step-by-step
Cook onions DRY in pot over medium-low 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they break down and turn dark mahogany. No oil yet. this is critical.
30 min timer
Add butter, garlic, ginger. Cook 2 minutes.
Stir in berbere and paprika. Cook 3 minutes. spices must bloom.
Add tomato paste and broth. Simmer 5 minutes.
Toss chicken with lemon juice and salt. Add to pot.
Cover, simmer 40 minutes until chicken is tender and sauce is thick.
40 min timer
Pierce eggs all over with a fork. Nestle into sauce. Simmer 10 minutes uncovered for flavor absorption.
Serve over injera or with rice.
Cook's tip
The dry onion sauté is THE technique. Skipping or rushing it produces a thin, harsh stew. Patience here pays.
Storage
Refrigerate 5 days. Even better next day.
Freezer: Freezes 3 months.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 540
- Protein
- 38g
- Carbs
- 22g
- Fat
- 32g
- Fiber
- 4g
- Sugar
- 8g
- Sat Fat
- 16g
- Sodium
- 720mg
Estimates based on USDA FoodData Central. See our nutrition disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find berbere?
Ethiopian/Eritrean markets, well-stocked spice shops, online. Or make it: paprika + cayenne + cardamom + coriander + fenugreek + cloves.
Vegetarian version?
Skip chicken, use sweet potatoes, lentils, and the same eggs. Common in Ethiopian fasting cuisine.
Reviews
Tola O.
3 days ago
Made this for Sunday lunch — the smoky bottom turned out perfect. Family demolished the pot in twenty minutes.
✓ Would make again
Marcus B.
1 week ago
First time cooking this and the timing notes saved me. Did not lift the lid once. The crust at the bottom was the best part.
✓ Would make again
Aisha K.
2 weeks ago
Loved it but added an extra scotch bonnet — we like it spicy. Recipe scales well, made a double batch.
✓ Would make again
Reviews shown are illustrative pre-launch. Real user reviews appear here as the community grows.
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