• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Chipa by the Dozen
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

Home » Savory Dishes

Niter Kibbeh (Ethiopian Spiced Butter)

Published: Nov 12, 2019 · Modified: Dec 19, 2020 by Lizet

↓ Jump to Recipe

This post may have affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site!

Niter Kibbeh, an aromatic clarified butter, is the key building block in many Ethiopian dishes.

Its preparation is similar to that of ghee, but niter kibbeh is simmered with spices before straining it, imparting a distinct, spicy aroma.

It is used in many Ethiopian dishes, Doro Wat, for example. It is usually made in large quantities and kept on hand for daily use.

It adds an incomparable flavor to dishes. Plain butter or oil can be substituted in Ethiopian recipes if you don't have the time to make niter kibbeh, but something special will be missing.

There are, of course, many different recipes for nitter kibbeh. 

The spices and other ingredients can be added during the clarification process, or the butter could be clarified and then the spices cooked with the butter-fat until it is well-flavored. In either case, it needs to be well strained and filtered through a cheese-cloth.

Spices for Niter Kibbeh

If you enjoy Indian food, you might have some of the ingredients in your pantry already.

ingredients for clarified butter

There are 2 ingredients that are hard to find outside Ethiopia, besobela and koseret.

Besobela is a variety of Holy Basil that grows wild in Ethiopia. Its purple flowers and leaves are sundried, then sometimes toasted before being ground.

I found it on Amazon, but it was going to take 2 months to arrive, so I omitted on my recipe.

Koseret is an Ethiopian herb that grows wild around Africa. It's often compared with oregano, but the plant is more similar to verbena.

And this one you can find on Amazon.

If you ever go to an Ethiopian restaurant, ask the waitress if you could buy some of their spices to make Niter Kibbeh. A lot of them are willing to sell you some.

How to Make Spiced Clarified Butter

The process for making clarified butter is very simple, just make sure you are using good quality unsalted butter.

small black pot simmering butter.

Add all the ingredients to a saucepan and simmer it over low heat until the water evaporates and the milk solids gently brown.

Once it's done, let it cool completely on the pan and then strain it and pour it into jars.

Niter Kibbeh is not only great for Ethiopian food but it also enhances the flavors of any curry.

Niter Kibbeh (Ethiopian Spiced Butter)
How do you keep niter kibbeh?

I've kept mine in the fridge for up to 2 months. I talked to a friend who lives in Ethiopia, and he said that they keep it at room temperature. But I haven't tried it.

Can I make dairy-free niter kibbeh?

Yes! use your favorite dairy-free butter and follow the instructions.

Recipes you might like:

  • Doro Wot (Ethiopian Spicy Chicken Stew)
    Doro Wot (Ethiopian Spicy Chicken Stew)
  • Siga Wot (Ethiopian Spicy Beef Stew)
    Siga Wot (Ethiopian Spicy Beef Stew)
  • Misir Wot (Ethiopian Spicy Lentils)
    Misir Wot (Ethiopian Spicy Lentils)

If you liked the recipe above, please consider rating the recipe and leaving a comment below! and share your picture on Instagram with the hashtag #chipabythedozen

Recipe

Niter Kibbeh (Ethiopian Spiced Butter)
Print Recipe
5 from 5 votes

Niter Kibbeh (Ethiopian Spiced Butter)

Niter Kibbeh is a seasoned, clarified butter used in Eritrean and Ethiopian cuisine.

Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time45 minutes mins
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: Ethiopian
Servings: 3 cups
Calories: 400kcal
Author: Lizet Bowen

Ingredients

  • 4 cups unsalted butter (908 g)
  • 6 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tablespoons grated ginger
  • 1 shallot diced
  • 3 tablespoons koseret
  • 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 5 black cardamom pots

Instructions

  • In a big saucepan add all the ingredients and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes.
  • If foam rises to the top, skim it off with a spoon.
  • Strain butter using a few layers of cheesecloth and set it over a clean, heat-proof container. Discarding any solids. Let cool completely at room temperature, and refrigerate, tightly covered, for up to 2 months.

Notes

400 calories in 4 tablespoons.
Makes 3- ½ cups of clarifed butter.

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcal

Niter Kibbeh (Ethiopian Spiced Butter)
Niter Kibbeh (Ethiopian Spiced Butter)

More Savory Dishes

  • mashed yuca in a bowl
    Mashed Yuca Root (Cassava Mash)
  • first shot of plate with rice and chicken salpicon
    Salpicón (Bolivian Style Chicken Salad)
  • Bolivian peanut soup
    Bolivian Peanut Soup
  • front shot of bowl with rice soup
    Asopao de Camarones (Shrimp and Rice Soup)

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Pat

    April 04, 2021 at 12:44 am

    Any idea what to use in countries where Koseret isn't available? I'm in Australia and I get Nitter Kibbeh from an injera bakery, which tastes beautiful, but I'm not sure what they use, as this ingredient isn't available here.

    Reply
    • Lizet

      April 04, 2021 at 1:18 am

      Wow! An injera bakery! That tells me that you have a big enough Ethiopian community in the country. I'm guessing you already asked them if they can sell you some.
      Are there any restaurants? One time we bought a huge bag from a restaurant.
      But for many years I've made it without it. It has a beautiful taste and makes tasty curries, even without that main ingredient.
      I really hope you can find it.

      Reply
  2. Stacy

    December 18, 2020 at 11:39 pm

    I just made this! My house smells divine and the food I’ve added it to is delicious!

    Reply
    • Lizet

      December 19, 2020 at 1:24 am

      So happy to hear this! I love to use it when I make Indian food too.

      Reply
  3. Kathryn

    November 24, 2019 at 3:57 pm

    I'm so intrigued! I've never had anything like this, but it sounds amazing!

    Reply
    • Lizet

      November 26, 2019 at 5:19 pm

      I hope you give it a try! makes every meal more delicious 🙂

      Reply
  4. Lisa Killian

    November 18, 2019 at 8:46 pm

    This sounds amazing! I love different flavored butter so I need to try this ASAP!

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      November 19, 2019 at 7:46 pm

      Let us know how you like it!

      Reply
  5. Alexandra

    November 18, 2019 at 5:00 pm

    How flavoursome! I love butter, and this sounds incredible!

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      November 18, 2019 at 7:19 pm

      Thanks. Great for any curry 🙂

      Reply
  6. Karen

    November 18, 2019 at 3:21 am

    Wow- this sounds fantastic. I cannot wait to try it!

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      November 18, 2019 at 7:20 pm

      Enjoy it!

      Reply
  7. Caitlyn Erhardt

    November 18, 2019 at 1:41 am

    You had me at butter! This sounds so wonderful and I can't wait to try it!

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      November 18, 2019 at 7:21 pm

      Enjoy it! 😋

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Lizet's photo, creator of Chipa by the Dozen.

Hello! I am Lizet.

Welcome to my blog. This is a collection of the most beloved recipes between my family and friends. Some are my own creations and some are copycat from the many found on the internet, but with a twist using ingredients I can find in Paraguay. I hope you enjoy them!

More about me

Favorite Recipes

  • Easy Tangerine Cake
    Easy Tangerine Cake
  • Bolivian peanut soup
    Bolivian Peanut Soup
  • Freshly made Portuguese Coconut Buns (Pão De Deus) on a white plate.
    Portuguese Coconut Buns (Pão De Deus)
  • small cup with ceviche
    Ceviche Colombiano - Authentic Colombian Shrimp Ceviche

Bolivian Recipes

  • first shot marraquetas. Bolivian style french rolls.
    Marraquetas (French Bread Rolls)
  • bolivian rice pudding in a glass
    Bolivian Rice Pudding
  • cuñape in a wood bowl
    Cuñapé (Gluten-Free Cheese Bread)
  • varias salteñas en un bol de madera
    Salteñas (Bolivian Baked Empanadas)

Footer

Recent Posts

  • Mashed Yuca Root (Cassava Mash)
  • Marraquetas (French Bread Rolls)
  • Floating Island Dessert

Copyright © 2025 CHIPA BY THE DOZEN