Slow-Simmered Berbere Beef Zigni with Red Onion and Garlic

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-21 · Updated 2026-07-21

A deeply spiced Ethiopian-style ground beef stew simmered with berbere spice, red onions, and garlic for a rich and warming flavor. This Ethiopian beef recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs ground beef, red onion, and garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner. Each serving lands at about 320 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 "Build a week of meals around this recipe" 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
• 2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tbsp berbere spice mix
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 cup water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 thinly sliced red onions and sauté for 8 minutes until soft and translucent.
2. Step 2: Stir in 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, careful not to burn.
3. Step 3: Add 1 lb ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and no longer pink.
4. Step 4: Mix in 3 tbsp berbere spice mix and 2 tbsp tomato paste, stirring to coat the beef and onions evenly.
5. Step 5: Pour in 1 cup water, season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens and deepens in color.