''Kitfo'' (, ) is an

Ethiopian Ethiopians are the native inhabitants of Ethiopia, as well as the global diaspora of Ethiopia. Ethiopians constitute several component ethnic groups, many of which are closely related to ethnic groups in neighboring Eritrea and other parts of ...

traditional dish that originated among the Gurage people. It consists of minced raw

beef Beef is the culinary name for meat from cattle (''Bos taurus''). Beef can be prepared in various ways; Cut of beef, cuts are often used for steak, which can be cooked to varying degrees of doneness, while trimmings are often Ground beef, grou ...

, marinated in '' mitmita'' (a chili-based spice powder) and '' niter kibbeh'' (a

clarified butter Clarified butter is butter from which all milk solids have been removed. The result is a clear, yellow butter that can be heated to higher temperatures before burning. Typically, it is produced by melting butter and allowing the components to ...

infused with herbs and spices). The word comes from the Ethio-Semitic triconsonantal root ''k-t-f'', meaning "to chop finely; mince". ''Kitfo'' cooked lightly rare is known as ''kitfo leb leb''.Mesfin, D.J. ''Exotic Ethiopian Cooking'', Falls Church, Virginia: Ethiopian Cookbooks Enterprises, 2006, pp.124, 129. ''Kitfo'' is often served alongside — or sometimes mixed with — a mild

cheese Cheese is a type of dairy product produced in a range of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk (usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats or sheep). During prod ...

called ''ayibe'' or cooked greens known as ''gomen''. In many parts of Ethiopia, ''kitfo'' is served with '' injera'', a spongy, absorbent

sourdough Sourdough is a type of bread that uses the fermentation by naturally occurring yeast and lactobacillus bacteria to raise the dough. In addition to leavening the bread, the fermentation process produces lactic acid, which gives the bread its dis ...

crêpe A crêpe or crepe ( or , , ) is a dish made from unleavened batter or dough that is cooked on a frying pan or a griddle. Crêpes are usually one of two varieties: ''sweet crêpes'' () or ''savoury galettes'' (). They are often served ...

-like

flatbread A flatbread is bread made usually with flour; water, milk, yogurt, or other liquid; and salt, and then thoroughly rolled into flattened dough. Many flatbreads are Unleavened bread, unleavened, although some are leavened, such as pita bread. A Se ...

made from fermented teff flour; traditional Gurage cuisine replaces this with '' kocho'', a thick flatbread made of the ''

ensete ''Ensete'' is a genus of monocarpic flowering plants native plant, native to tropical regions of Africa and Asia. It is one of the three genera in the banana family, Musaceae, and includes the false banana or enset (''Ensete ventricosum, E. vent ...

'' plant. An ''ensete'' leaf may be also used as a garnish. Though not considered a delicacy, ''kitfo'' is generally held in high regard. It is served on special occasions such as holidays like '' Meskel'' on 27 September, the feast celebrating the Finding of the

True Cross According to Christian tradition, the True Cross is the real instrument of Jesus' crucifixion, cross on which Jesus of Nazareth was Crucifixion of Jesus, crucified. It is related by numerous historical accounts and Christian mythology, legends ...

References

External links

Kitfo recipe
Raw beef dishes Eritrean cuisine Ethiopian cuisine {{meat-stub

See also

References

External links