Slow Simmered Ethiopian Doro Wat Chicken Stew
A deeply spiced Ethiopian chicken stew slow-cooked with berbere spice and fragrant onions, served with hard-boiled eggs for a rich and hearty meal. This Ethiopian-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 95 minutes, pairs red onions, finely chopped, berbere spice blend, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 6, 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
- 2 lbs whole chicken legs, skin removed and cut into pieces
- 3 cups red onions, finely chopped
- 3 tbsp berbere spice blend
- 1/4 cup niter kibbeh (Ethiopian spiced clarified butter)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp ginger root, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 cups water or chicken stock
- 6 hard-boiled eggs
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 1/4 cup niter kibbeh in a large heavy-bottom pot over medium heat until melted and hot. Add 3 cups finely chopped red onions and cook for 15 minutes, stirring often, until deeply caramelized and fragrant.
- Step 2: Stir in 4 minced garlic cloves and 2 tbsp minced ginger root, cooking for 2 minutes until aromatic. Add 3 tbsp berbere spice blend and 2 tbsp tomato paste, stirring for 3 minutes until the spices are toasted and the mixture thickens.
- Step 3: Add 2 lbs chicken leg pieces, tossing to coat thoroughly with the spiced onion mixture. Pour in 2 cups water or chicken stock, season with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper, bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 45 minutes covered, stirring occasionally.
- Step 4: Carefully add 6 hard-boiled eggs to the stew, simmer uncovered for another 10 minutes to let flavors meld. Finish with 1 tbsp lemon juice stirred through, then remove from heat and serve hot.








