Ethiopian Beef Steak Tartar (Kitfo)

My Ethiopian Cooking: Steak Tartar (Kitfo)

Kitfo is one of the typical dishes of Ethiopian cooking. The main ingredients of Kitfo is beef, clarified butter and mitmita. Mitmita is a very spicy pepper powder which is made of cayenne-type tiny dark-orange chili peppers seasoned with spices such as cloves, cardamom seed and salt.

Ingredients of the Steak Tartar (Kitfo):

2 lb (1 kg) beef top round (freshly cut)
6 teaspoons or more Mitmita *
4 tablespoons purified/clarified butter (Nitir Kebe) **
1 teaspoon cardamom powder (korerima) *
¼ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
Salt and black pepper to taste (optional)

Preparation:

1st Step: Cut the meat in small pieces; remove fat and seams;

2nd Step: In a food processor put small amount of the meat at a time, spread some mitmita, grind until meat is finely chopped; using a fork, remove any residue of fat and seams; place the spicy ground meat in a dish; repeat the process until all required meat is done.

3rd Step: In small pot, on a lower heat melt the butter, add the remaining mitmita, cardamom, (garlic, black pepper, salt, if needed); remove from heat;

4th Step: Combine the spicy ground meat with the spicy butter; using fork and spoon, mix it until completely marinated.

5th Step: Place it in a lightly warm serving dish, serve it immediately with Injera or bread. If preferred, sauté the marinated meat for two to three minutes.

6 Servings

Note: As Steak Tartar is uncooked dish, choice of first class quality meat and cleanliness is important.

* You will find these spices in Ethiopian or Indian shops/groceries
** Please click here to see how to prepare Purified/Clarified Butter (Nitir Kebe)

For nutritional facts of this recipe please visit http://www.recipezaar.com/353928. For vitamin content please click on "Print Recipe" on aforementioned site.