Kitfo (ክትፎ)
Gurage people, central Ethiopia
Kitfo is the Ethiopian equivalent of steak tartare — raw or barely-warmed lean beef mince seasoned generously with kibbe (spiced clarified butter), mitmita (a fiery Ethiopian dry spice blend based on bird's eye chilli, cardamom, and cloves), and salt. It is served leb leb (warmed, barely cooked), tere sega (completely raw), or fully cooked depending on preference, though leb leb is the classical serving where the meat is briefly warmed in the kibbe just until the colour changes. Kitfo is of Gurage cultural origin and is considered a prestigious, celebratory preparation. It is served with injera, kotcho (ensete flatbread), and ayib (fresh Ethiopian cottage cheese) whose mild, creamy character provides relief from the mitmita's extraordinary heat.