Slow-Simmered Berbere Spiced Beef Tibs

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-09 · Updated 2026-05-09

Tender cubes of beef cooked slowly in a rich, aromatic berbere sauce, enhanced with onions, garlic, and Ethiopian spices for a deeply flavorful stew. This Ethiopian-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 110 minutes, pairs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes, berbere spice mix, yellow onion, finely chopped 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 beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 tbsp berbere spice mix
• 1 medium (150g) yellow onion, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger root, grated
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 cup water
• 3 tbsp niter kibbeh (Ethiopian spiced clarified butter) or unsalted butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large heavy-bottomed pot, melt 3 tbsp niter kibbeh over medium heat. Add 1 medium finely chopped yellow onion and sauté for 6-7 minutes until soft and translucent, stirring frequently.
2. Step 2: Stir in 4 minced garlic cloves and 1 tbsp grated ginger root, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
3. Step 3: Add 2 tbsp berbere spice mix and 2 tbsp tomato paste, stirring constantly for 2 minutes until the spices bloom and the mixture thickens slightly.
4. Step 4: Add 1 lb beef chuck cubes to the pot, stirring to coat all pieces evenly with the spice mixture. Cook over medium-high heat for 5 minutes until the beef starts to brown.
5. Step 5: Pour in 1 cup water, then add 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover partially, and reduce heat to low.
6. Step 6: Let the beef simmer gently for 1 hour 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is tender and the sauce has thickened to a rich consistency.
7. Step 7: Taste and adjust seasoning before serving, ideally with injera or rice.