Doro Wat (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!).

Remove skin from the chicken and score each piece slightly with a knife so
the sauce can penetrate.

In a large stew pot, melt the butter, then saute the onions and garlic for
five minutes. Add berbere, followed by tomato paste, stirring occasionally
while the mixture simmers about 15 minutes. A piece at a time, stir in the
chicken, coating well with the sauce.

Continue to simmer, adding enough water to maintain the consistency of a
thick soup. When chicken is half done, after about 20 minutes, put in the
hard boiled eggs. Cover and continue cooking until the chicken is tender.

The dish is ready when the oil has risen to the top. Add black pepper and
let sit until slightly cooled.

Serve with injera.

Makes 8 to 10 servings.

From "The Africa News Cookbook-African Cooking for the Western Kitchen".
Lots of good soups, stews and the like are in it.

Posted by Stephen Ceideberg; June 11 1991.