Pescatarian Berbere Spice Blend
Few spice blends carry as much depth and personality as this Ethiopian-inspired berbere, and making it from scratch is a genuinely rewarding kitchen project. The process starts with toasting dried guajillo and arbol chiles alongside whole coriander, fenugreek, peppercorns, cardamom, and cloves — that brief time in a dry skillet coaxes out oils and aromas you simply cannot get from a pre-ground jar. Once everything is ground to a fine powder and blended with paprika, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt, the result is a complex, warmly spiced blend with real heat, earthiness, and a subtle sweetness. Every ingredient here is entirely plant-based, so it fits naturally into a pescatarian kitchen without any substitutions or workarounds needed. Use it as a rub for fish or shrimp, stir it into lentils, or mix it into a marinade — it's incredibly versatile. Stored in an airtight jar away from light, it keeps for up to three months, meaning you can batch it once and reach for it all season long. This is the kind of homemade pantry staple that quietly elevates everything it touches.
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Learn more →Ingredients
12 servings
- 3 dried guajillo chiles, stems and seeds removed
- 1 dried arbol chile, stem removed
- 1 tsp coriander seeds
- ½ tsp fenugreek seeds
- ½ tsp black peppercorns
- 4 green cardamom pods
- ¼ tsp whole cloves
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground allspice
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- 1
Tear the guajillo and arbol chiles into rough pieces and place them in a small dry skillet over medium heat. Toast, pressing them flat with a spatula, for about 1–2 minutes per side until they darken slightly and smell fragrant — watch closely, as they can scorch quickly.
- 2
Add the coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds, black peppercorns, cardamom pods, and whole cloves to the same skillet. Toast over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 1–2 minutes until the seeds are fragrant and the coriander turns a shade darker.
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