Pressure-Cooked Doro Wat with Seasonal Root Vegetables
A hearty Ethiopian-inspired skillet supper featuring pressure-cooked chicken thighs simmered in a rich, spiced berbere sauce, accompanied by a medley of seasonal root vegetables. This dish balances traditional flavors with weeknight ease, utilizing pressure cooking to tenderize the protein and meld flavors quickly.
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Overview
Doro Wat is a classic Ethiopian chicken stew known for its deep, complex flavors highlighted by berbere spice, onions, and clarified butter. This recipe adapts traditional techniques to modern weeknight cooking by using a pressure cooker to tenderize the chicken quickly and infuse it with rich flavors. Seasonal root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes add heartiness and natural sweetness, balancing the spicy stew perfectly.
Why you’ll love it
- Authentic Ethiopian flavors in a fraction of the traditional cooking time.
- The pressure cooker tenderizes chicken thighs beautifully while melding spices.
- Seasonal root vegetables cook alongside for a complete, nutritious skillet supper.
- Perfect comforting meal for chilly evenings with minimal hands-on time.
Ingredient notes
- Chicken thighs: Bone-in, skin-on thighs provide best flavor and tenderness.
- Berbere spice: A key Ethiopian spice blend, available at specialty stores or online.
- Niter kibbeh: Clarified Ethiopian spiced butter, but unsalted butter with added warm spices can substitute.
- Seasonal root vegetables: Use a mix of carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, or turnips according to availability.
- Red onions: Finely sliced for a silky stew base.
Serving & storage
Serve this Doro Wat with injera, rice, or crusty bread to soak up the rich sauce. For storage, allow the stew to cool to room temperature before refrigerating in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave. This stew also freezes well for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
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Chef tips
- For the best flavor, toast your berbere spice briefly in the pan before adding onions if desired.
- Use bone-in chicken thighs for juiciness; skin-on helps enrich the sauce but can be removed before serving if preferred.
- If you don’t have niter kibbeh, melt unsalted butter with a cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, and cloves to mimic the flavor.
- Be careful when releasing pressure from the cooker to avoid steam burns.
- Leftovers taste even better as flavors meld over time.
Ingredients
- 1.2 kg (about 2.6 lbs)bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoonsniter kibbeh (Ethiopian spiced clarified butter) or unsalted butter infused with 1 tsp warm spices
- 4 mediumred onions, thinly sliced (about 500 g)
- 3 tablespoonsberbere spice blend
- 3 clovesgarlic, minced
- 1 tablespoonfresh ginger, minced
- 2 tablespoonstomato paste
- 250 ml (1 cup)chicken stock or water
- 2 mediumcarrots, peeled and cut into 3 cm (1 inch) pieces
- 2 mediumparsnips, peeled and cut into 3 cm (1 inch) pieces
- 1 mediumsweet potato, peeled and cut into 3 cm (1 inch) cubes
- to tastesalt
- to tastefreshly ground black pepper
- Juice of half a lemonfresh lemon juice
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Equipment
- pressure cooker (electric or stovetop)
- large skillet or sauté pan
- wooden spoon or spatula
- sharp knife
- cutting board
Nutrition per serving
- Calories480
- Protein35 g
- Carbs30 g
- Fat22 g
Step-by-step
Step 1
Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper.Step 2
Heat the pressure cooker pot over medium heat. Add the niter kibbeh (or butter) and melt until fragrant.Step 3
Add the thinly sliced onions to the pot. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions soften and become golden brown, about 15 minutes.Step 4
Stir in the minced garlic and ginger, cooking for 1 minute until aromatic.Step 5
Add the berbere spice blend and tomato paste. Cook and stir for 2 minutes to toast the spices and deepen the flavors.Step 6
Nestle the chicken thighs into the spice and onion mixture, coating them well with the sauce.Step 7
Pour in the chicken stock or water. Close the pressure cooker lid and bring to high pressure.Step 8
Once at high pressure, cook for 15 minutes to tenderize the chicken and develop flavors.Step 9
Quickly release the pressure according to your cooker’s instructions. Open the lid carefully.Step 10
Add the cut seasonal root vegetables to the pot, stirring gently to combine.Step 11
Close the lid again and cook at high pressure for an additional 5 minutes to soften the vegetables.Step 12
Release the pressure quickly and open the lid. Stir gently and check seasoning; adjust salt and pepper as needed. Stir in lemon juice to brighten the stew.Step 13
Serve hot with injera, rice, or bread, garnished if desired.
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