Berbere-Spiced Zigni Wat with Ground Beef

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-02 · Updated 2026-06-02

A fiery Eritrean-style meat stew featuring ground beef simmered in a berbere-spiced tomato sauce, perfect for a comforting meal. This African-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs ground beef, yellow onion, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 medium, finely diced yellow onion
• 4, minced garlic cloves
• 3 tbsp berbere spice blend
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• 14 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add 1 medium finely diced yellow onion and sauté for 5 minutes until soft and golden.
2. Step 2: Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 3 tbsp berbere spice blend, cooking for 1-2 minutes until the spices are aromatic.
3. Step 3: Increase heat to medium-high, add 1 lb ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook for 6-7 minutes until browned and no longer pink.
4. Step 4: Stir in 3 tbsp tomato paste and 14 oz canned diced tomatoes, mixing well.
5. Step 5: Pour in 1 cup beef broth, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 25 minutes until the sauce thickens.
6. Step 6: Season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper, stirring to combine before serving.