What is Zil Zil Tibs?

Zilzil tibs is an Ethiopian beef dish made with long, thin strips of meat quickly sautéed in spiced butter with onions and berbere. The name refers to the ribbon-like cut of the beef, which helps it cook fast and hold spice evenly. It's usually served on injera and eaten by hand.

What does tibs mean in Ethiopian?

In Amharic, “tibs” refers to pan-fried meat, often beef or lamb. It’s a cooking method more than a single dish. Variations include dry, saucy, or spiced versions, and it can be served in casual or festive meals.

What exactly is Awaze Tibs?

Awaze tibs is a style of tibs prepared with awaze , a chili-based paste made from berbere, mustard, garlic, and sometimes honey or wine. The paste gives the beef a deeper spice and slight tang, making it more intense than regular tibs.

What is Ethiopia's most famous dish?

Ethiopia’s most recognized dish is doro wot , a spicy chicken stew served with hard-boiled eggs and injera. It's often prepared for holidays and special occasions, and it showcases key elements of Ethiopian cooking: berbere spice, slow simmering, and injera as the base.

Zilzil Tibs: 5-Minute Ethiopian Beef Dish With Big Flavor

Name: Zilzil Tibs: Ethiopia’s Fiercest Beef Dish, Explained
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Ethiopian
Ingredients: 1 lb flank or skirt steak, sliced into long strips; 2 tbsp niter kibbeh (spiced clarified butter); 1 red onion, thinly sliced; 3 cloves garlic, sliced; 1–2 tsp berbere spice; 1 green chili, sliced (optional); Salt to taste

Zilzil Tibs: Ethiopia’s Fiercest Beef Dish, Explained

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Zilzil Tibs is a traditional Ethiopian beef stir-fry made with long strips of beef, cooked quickly in niter kibbeh and seasoned with berbere spice.

Author: Chef Alex
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 2 servings 1x
Category: Main
Method: Sauté
Cuisine: Ethiopian
Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb flank or skirt steak, sliced into long strips

2 tbsp niter kibbeh (spiced clarified butter)

1 red onion, thinly sliced

3 cloves garlic, sliced

1–2 tsp berbere spice

1 green chili, sliced (optional)

Salt to taste

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Instructions

1. Heat the niter kibbeh in a cast iron pan until shimmering.

2. Add onions and sauté until golden.

3. Add garlic and stir briefly.

4. Increase heat and add beef strips in a single layer.

5. Sear without stirring too much, then add berbere spice.

6. Toss with green chili or tomato slices (optional).

7. Serve hot over injera or rice.

Notes

Slice beef against the grain for tenderness.

The dry version is the most traditional, but you can add tomato or stock for a wetter finish.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 plate
Calories: 400
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 400mg
Fat: 25g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Unsaturated Fat: 12g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 6g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 35g
Cholesterol: 90mg

Find it online: https://www.adorarecipes.com/zilzil-tibs/