YeBeg Wot is a popular Ethiopian lamb stew that is usually prepared during holidays similar to Doro Wat (Ethiopian chicken stew). It is also commonly served during ceremonies such as weddings or other important events.

Traditionally, farmers in Ethiopia fatten their lambs with a high-calorie diet for many weeks ahead of the holidays and special occasions. This results in fatty, soft meat that is then used to prepare YeBeg Wot along with onions, garlic, tomatoes, Niter Kibbeh, and other spices.

Hence, in addition to its unique flavor, YeBeg Wot has a lot of protein, carbohydrates, and antioxidants. It is also not too difficult to make at home with just a few ingredients.

Ingredients Required to Make YeBeg Wot

  • 2 pounds of lamb meat (cut into small bite-size pieces)
  • 2 onions (finely chopped)
  • 1 tbsp garlic (finely minced)
  • ¼ cup of Niter Kibbeh
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 tsp Korerima (ground)
  • 1 tsp black pepper (ground)
  • ½ cup Berbere
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How to Make YeBeg Wot (Step-by-Step Tutorial)

  1. Rinse the small pieces of lamb meat using warm water and dry.
  2. Cook the onions using a large iron or enamel stewpot over medium heat with the lid closed for about 15 min, keeping the onions moist by adding warm water as necessary.
  3. When the water evaporates and the onions are translucent, add some of the Niter Kibbeh and let the onions roast until they darken and caramelize, for about 3 min. Don’t let them burn.
  4. Add the rest of the Niter Kibbeh, raise the heat, and continue roasting the onions for 2 min. Then add about a quarter of a cup of water and cook for 1 more minute.
  5. Add the Berbere and continue cooking for 2 min.
  6. Add another quarter of a cup of water along with the garlic, black pepper, and Korerima, and continue cooking for 2 more min.
  7. Slowly add the small pieces of lamb meat so that they are well mixed in the sauce. Then close the lid and continue cooking for 15 min. stirring every 2 min.
  8. Add another quarter of a cup of water, then reduce the heat to medium heat and continue cooking for about 5 min.
  9. Lower the heat again, add some salt, and continue cooking for 5 min.
  10. Finally, remove it from heat and let it cool for 15 min. and serve along with Injera.

Equipment Recommendations to Make YeBeg Wot

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YeBeg Wot Recipe

YeBeg Key Wot (Ethiopian Spicy Lamb Stew) Recipe

5.0 from 2 votes
Recipe by Sara Seife Course: Main Dishes, Lunch, DinnerCuisine: EthiopianDifficulty: Intermediate
Servings

7

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

50

minutes
Total time

1

hour 

5

minutes

YeBeg Wot is a popular Ethiopian lamb stew that is usually prepared during holidays similar to Doro Wat (Ethiopian chicken stew). It is also not too difficult to make at home with just a few ingredients.

Cook Mode

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Ingredients

  • 2 pounds of lamb meat (cut into small bite-size pieces)

  • 2 onions (finely chopped)

  • 1 tbsp garlic (finely minced)

  • ¼ cup of Niter Kibbeh

  • 4 cups water

  • 1 tsp Korerima (ground)

  • 1 tsp black pepper (ground)

  • ½ cup Berbere

Directions

  • Rinse the small pieces of lamb meat using warm water and dry.
  • Cook the onions using a large iron or enamel stewpot over medium heat with the lid closed for about 15 min, keeping the onions moist by adding warm water as necessary.
  • When the water evaporates and the onions are translucent, add some of the Niter Kibbeh and let the onions roast until they darken and caramelize, for about 3 min. Don’t let them burn.
  • Add the rest of the Niter Kibbeh, raise the heat, and continue roasting the onions for 2 min. Then add about a quarter of a cup of water and cook for 1 more minute.
  • Add the Berbere and continue cooking for 2 min.
  • Add another quarter of a cup of water along with the garlic, black pepper, and Korerima, and continue cooking for 2 more min.
  • Slowly add the small pieces of lamb meat so that they are well mixed in the sauce. Then close the lid and continue cooking for 15 min. stirring every 2 min.
  • Add another quarter of a cup of water, then reduce the heat to medium heat and continue cooking for about 5 min.
  • Lower the heat again, add some salt, and continue cooking for 5 min.
  • Finally, remove it from heat and let it cool for 15 min. and serve along with Injera.

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Sara Seife
Sara Seife

Sara is a blogger, nutritionist, and recipe engineer who loves to create and share Ethiopian food recipes and guides. She is the Chief Editor of The Ethiopian Food, an online platform that aims to help people all over the world learn about and enjoy Ethiopian cuisine. Sara is passionate about sharing her love of Ethiopian food and culture with others, and she hopes that her recipes and guides will help people to create delicious and authentic Ethiopian meals at home.

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