{"title":"Somali \u0026 Ethiopian Spices","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe spices of the Horn of Africa, blended in-house in Ottawa. Xawaash (xawash) is the warm cumin and cardamom blend at the heart of Somali rice, suqaar and stews. Berbere is the deep red chilli and fenugreek base of Ethiopian and Eritrean cooking, from doro wat to misir wat. Mitmita is the fiery bird's eye chilli blend served with kitfo.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach blend comes in a shaker jar, a 400g pouch and a 1kg pouch for kitchens that cook these dishes every week. Free shipping in Canada on orders over $50.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"fenugreek-seeds","title":"Fenugreek Seeds","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFenugreek Seeds\u003c\/strong\u003e deliver a bold, earthy flavor with a subtle sweetness reminiscent of maple, making them a staple in many global cuisines. These small, golden-brown seeds come from the \u003cem\u003eTrigonella foenum-graecum\u003c\/em\u003e plant and are prized for their ability to add depth and complexity to curries, stews, pickles, and spice blends.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTheir distinctive savory profile also makes them ideal for seasoning vegetable and meat dishes, and they're frequently used to create rich aromatics when lightly toasted. Beyond cooking, Fenugreek Seeds are often included in herbal teas and traditional preparations passed down through generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUse a quarter to half a teaspoon of the whole seeds in a curry base or a pickling masala, and toast them briefly before grinding for a sambar powder. Soak a tablespoon overnight and they swell and soften for sprouting or for grinding into a dosa or idli batter. The seeds are bitter, so restraint matters more than with most spices. Technique tip: toast them only to a light gold, since fenugreek turns properly bitter within seconds of going brown and there is no rescuing the batch.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eTrigonella foenum-graecum\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso known as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Methi Seeds, Fenugrec, Fieno Greco, Bockshornklee Samen, Alholva, 牛蒱子, Fenogreco Semillas\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ameen Foods","offers":[{"title":"200g (Jar)","offer_id":47129588465686,"sku":"660111672208","price":8.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"400g (Pouch)","offer_id":47129588498454,"sku":"660111672209","price":12.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1000g (Pouch)","offer_id":47129588531222,"sku":"660111672210","price":21.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/8602\/2678\/files\/Fenugreek_ad3dd8fe-d339-4119-add7-2ba9a76f5f37.png?v=1716829549"},{"product_id":"xawaash-somali-spice","title":"Xawaash Somali Spice (Xawash)","description":"\u003cp\u003eXawaash (also spelled xawash or hawash) is the everyday spice blend of Somali cooking, balanced and aromatic, warm rather than hot. Cumin and coriander lay the foundation with earthy and citrusy tones, and the cardamom and cinnamon give it a sweetness that sets it apart from a Levantine baharat.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCardamom introduces a touch of sweetness and floral aroma, black pepper adds a lively kick, turmeric contributes golden colour and subtle bitterness, and cinnamon rounds everything out with a gentle warming sweetness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eXawaash suits meats, poultry and stews as well as rice and vegetable preparations. Use a heaped tablespoon in a stew for four, or a teaspoon per cup of dry rice. The technique tip: add it to the pot in two stages, half with the onions at the beginning so the cumin and turmeric cook out, and half in the final five minutes so the cardamom and cinnamon stay fragrant. Somali cooks often keep a jar within reach of the stove for exactly this reason, since the blend is used at both ends of a dish.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe shaker jar\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe jar option is packed in a clear 8 oz shaker jar made from lightweight, food-safe PET, so the colour and texture of the blend are visible at a glance. The flip-top cap opens to a three-hole sifter for an even sprinkle straight over the pan, the grill or the plate, and closes again with a simple press. A pressure-sensitive liner seals the jar until first use, and the fitted cap keeps the blend fresh between uses. When a recipe calls for a measured spoonful, simply unscrew the cap; the wide mouth takes a teaspoon with ease. Once empty, the jar is easy to refill with your next Ameen blend and makes a practical home for dried herbs, chilli flakes, sesame seeds or homemade rubs. Hand wash only.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetails\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIngredients: Cumin, coriander, turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, green cardamom, cloves\u003cbr\u003eForm: Ground blend\u003cbr\u003eSizes: 120g jar, 400g pouch, 1kg pouch\u003cbr\u003eStorage: Keep in a cool, dry place away from sunlight, sealed in an airtight container once opened.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso known as\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eXawaash, Xawash, Hawash, Hawaash, Somali Spice Mix, Somali Xawaash, East African Spice Blend, كسواش بهارات\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ameen","offers":[{"title":"120g (Jar)","offer_id":43670354133014,"sku":"","price":10.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"400g (Pouch)","offer_id":43670354165782,"sku":"","price":19.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1000g (Pouch)","offer_id":43670354198550,"sku":"","price":42.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/8602\/2678\/files\/ameen-xawash-somali-spice-shaker-jar.jpg?v=1790180527"},{"product_id":"berbere-spice","title":"Berbere Spice","description":"\u003cp\u003eA foundation blend of Ethiopian cooking, built on chilli pepper and paprika with ginger, garlic, fenugreek, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and nutmeg. It is deep brick red, hot without being searing, and the fenugreek gives it a bittersweet finish no other chilli blend has.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChilli delivers the signature warmth, harmonised by the smoky sweetness of paprika and the aromatic sharpness of ginger and garlic. Fenugreek introduces the mild bitterness that rounds the blend out, cumin and coriander add rich earthy tones, and cinnamon, cardamom, clove and nutmeg finish with subtle sweetness and floral spice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is the base of doro wat, the Ethiopian chicken stew, and works equally as a rub for meats, a seasoning for roasted vegetables, or an ingredient in soups and sauces. Use two to three tablespoons for a stew serving four. Technique tip: cook berbere into slowly softened onions with plenty of fat for a good ten minutes before any liquid goes in. Underworked berbere tastes raw and dusty, and this long fry is what turns doro wat dark and glossy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe shaker jar\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe jar option is packed in a clear 8 oz shaker jar made from lightweight, food-safe PET, so the colour and texture of the blend are visible at a glance. The flip-top cap opens to a three-hole sifter for an even sprinkle straight over the pan, the grill or the plate, and closes again with a simple press. A pressure-sensitive liner seals the jar until first use, and the fitted cap keeps the blend fresh between uses. When a recipe calls for a measured spoonful, simply unscrew the cap; the wide mouth takes a teaspoon with ease. Once empty, the jar is easy to refill with your next Ameen blend and makes a practical home for dried herbs, chilli flakes, sesame seeds or homemade rubs. Hand wash only.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetails\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIngredients: Chilli Pepper, Paprika, Ginger, Garlic, Fenugreek, Cumin, Coriander, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Cloves, Nutmeg.\u003cbr\u003eSizes: 150g jar, 400g pouch and 1kg pouch.\u003cbr\u003eStorage: Keep in a cool, dry place away from sunlight, sealed in an airtight container once opened.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso known as\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBerbere Seasoning, Ethiopian Berbere, Berbere Mix, Abyssinian Powder, Ethiopian Red Pepper Blend, Berbere Ethiopian Spice Mix\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ameen","offers":[{"title":"150g (Jar)","offer_id":43669603450902,"sku":"","price":10.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"400g (Pouch)","offer_id":43669603483670,"sku":"","price":19.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1000g (Pouch)","offer_id":43669603516438,"sku":"","price":42.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/8602\/2678\/files\/ameen-berbere-spice-shaker-jar.jpg?v=1790180471"},{"product_id":"mitmita-spice-mix","title":"Mitmita Ethiopian Spice","description":"\u003cp\u003eMitmita is the fiery Ethiopian seasoning known for its vibrant orange-red colour and its heat. It is built on chili pepper, so the heat arrives first and stays, but behind it sit cardamom and clove, which give it an aromatic depth that plain chilli powder does not have.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe blend features chili pepper, cumin, coriander, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, ginger and garlic, a combination that delivers intense heat, warm depth and a lingering complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMitmita is used for beef dishes such as kitfo, sprinkled over lentils, and added to soups and roasted vegetables. Start with half a teaspoon for four servings and build from there, since it is considerably hotter than most blends. The technique tip: with kitfo it is stirred into warmed spiced butter and folded through the minced beef off the heat, not cooked into it. Serving it in a small dish on the side is the usual practice, so each person seasons to their own tolerance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe shaker jar\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe jar option is packed in a clear 8 oz shaker jar made from lightweight, food-safe PET, so the colour and texture of the blend are visible at a glance. The flip-top cap opens to a three-hole sifter for an even sprinkle straight over the pan, the grill or the plate, and closes again with a simple press. A pressure-sensitive liner seals the jar until first use, and the fitted cap keeps the blend fresh between uses. When a recipe calls for a measured spoonful, simply unscrew the cap; the wide mouth takes a teaspoon with ease. Once empty, the jar is easy to refill with your next Ameen blend and makes a practical home for dried herbs, chilli flakes, sesame seeds or homemade rubs. Hand wash only.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetails\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIngredients: Chili pepper, cumin, coriander, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, garlic\u003cbr\u003eForm: Ground blend\u003cbr\u003eSizes: 150g jar, 400g pouch, 1kg pouch\u003cbr\u003eStorage: Keep in a cool, dry place away from sunlight, sealed in an airtight container once opened.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso known as\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKitfo Spice, Ethiopian Chili Blend, ሚጥሚጣ (Mitmita)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ameen","offers":[{"title":"150g (Jar)","offer_id":43669603057686,"sku":"","price":10.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"400g (Pouch)","offer_id":43669603090454,"sku":"","price":19.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1000g (Pouch)","offer_id":43669603123222,"sku":"","price":39.49,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/8602\/2678\/files\/ameen-mitmita-ethiopian-spice-shaker-jar.jpg?v=1790180495"}],"url":"https:\/\/ameenfoods.ca\/collections\/somali-ethiopian-spices.oembed","provider":"Ameen Foods","version":"1.0","type":"link"}