Editorial sample recipeEthiopianbeginnerGluten-FreePescatarian

Ethiopian Mitmita Spiced Fish Tibs With Sweet Peppers

Name: Ethiopian Mitmita Spiced Fish Tibs With Sweet Peppers
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Ethiopian
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs skinless tilapia fillets, cut into 1-inch pieces; 2 tbsp niter kibbeh, Ethiopian spiced clarified butter; 1 large red onion, thinly sliced; 1 large red bell pepper, thinly sliced into strips; 2 medium jalapeno peppers, seeded and sliced into rings; 1 tbsp garlic, minced; 1 tsp mitmita spice blend, adjust for heat preference; 1 tsp ground green cardamom; 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice; 1 tsp fine sea salt

Quick-seared tilapia fillets cooked skillet-style with vibrant peppers, onions, and spicy mitmita pepper blend finished with spiced niter kibbeh butter.

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 15 min
Total: 30 min

AI-generated illustration of Ethiopian Mitmita Spiced Fish Tibs With Sweet Peppers

AI illustration

Technique to learn

High-Heat Skillet Searing (Tibs)

Cooking meat or fish rapidly in hot spiced butter alongside aromatics to achieve seared edges while retaining internal moisture.

Instructions

Step 1: Pat the tilapia pieces dry with paper towels and season evenly with fine sea salt and ground cardamom.
Step 2: Heat 1 tablespoon of niter kibbeh in a large stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat.

Step 3: Add red onion and bell pepper strips, sautéing for 4 minutes until edges begin to soften and lightly brown.

Step 4: Push vegetables to the sides, add remaining niter kibbeh to center of skillet, and add fish pieces in a single layer alongside garlic and sliced jalapeños.

Step 5: Sear fish untouched for 2 minutes, sprinkle mitmita spice over the skillet, then gently toss everything together for another 3 minutes until fish is flaked and cooked through.

Step 6: Drizzle fresh lemon juice over the fish tibs and serve immediately with flatbread.

Cooking tips

Mitmita is significantly hotter than berbere, so adjust the quantity to suit your preferred heat tolerance.
Keep fish pieces relatively large so they hold their shape during quick skillet stirring.
Original home-cooking adaptation inspired by Ethiopian; regional versions vary.
Use halal-certified meat, poultry, stock, sauces, cheese and other processed ingredients. Check labels and avoid cross-contamination. Recipe screening is not halal certification.

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