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berbere

British  
/ beəˈbeə /

noun

  1. a hot-tasting Ethiopian paste made from garlic, cayenne pepper, coriander, and other spices, often used in stews

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of berbere

French

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And if you have room, get the sweet potato pie topped with berbere.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Brown’s exemplary grilled half-chicken, the bird soft and full-flavored, gets a nuanced, glossy brick-red berbere sauce that builds heat, with that Ethiopian spice blend sourced from Sebhat Bakery & Grocery in the South End.

From Seattle Times • May 1, 2022

Deboned breast meat is marinated in buttermilk with the spices and chiles associated with doro wat, including black cardamom, black cumin and berbere.

From Washington Post • Jan. 20, 2021

That doro wot, a resonant chicken stew flavored with berbere, cloves and goosefoot herb, is among the great chicken dishes of the world.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 21, 2018

His recipe for millet cakes is bright with the brick-red Ethiopian spice blend berbere.

From New York Times • Nov. 28, 2017

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