🇪🇹 Ethiopia · Food
Cifet
By eatmundo · September 8, 2026
🇪🇹 ETAI-generated imageA flavorful and bold Ethiopian dish featuring sautéed beef liver, seasoned with aromatic spices and peppers. It offers a unique texture profile, balancing the richness of the liver with the heat of mitmita.
Ingredients
check them off as you prepareHow to Make It
- 1
Thoroughly clean the 500g of beef liver, removing any membranes, and slice it into bite-sized strips about 1cm thick.
- 2
Heat 60g of niter kibbeh in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat until it begins to shimmer.
- 3
Add 2 finely chopped red onions to the pan and sauté for 5 minutes until they become soft and translucent.
- 4
Stir in 3 cloves of minced garlic and 2 sliced green chilies, cooking for another 2 minutes until aromatic.
- 5
Add the sliced beef liver to the pan, turning the heat to high to sear the edges quickly, about 3 minutes, taking care not to overcook.
- 6
Season with 2 teaspoons of mitmita and 1 teaspoon of salt, tossing everything together for exactly 1 minute to distribute the spices.
- 7
Remove the skillet from the heat immediately, as liver can turn tough if left on the flame for too long.
- 8
Serve while steaming hot alongside fresh injera for the best possible experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cifet?+
Cifet is an Ethiopian sautéed liver dish prepared with niter kibbeh and hot mitmita spice. It is a prized traditional dish often served at breakfast or during celebrations.
How do I prevent the liver from becoming tough?+
The secret is a quick sear over high heat; liver loses its tenderness if cooked for too long or at too low a temperature.
Can I replace mitmita with berbere?+
You can, but the flavor profile will be deeper and less fiery; mitmita is essential for the authentic, sharp heat of this dish.
What should the liver look like inside?+
It should be slightly pink in the center, which ensures it remains juicy and tender, not powdery or dry.
Is it better to soak the liver first?+
Soaking liver in milk for 30 minutes before cooking can mellow its natural intensity, though it is not strictly required.
🇪🇹 ETAI-generated imageMundo Match
This dish doesn't have a strong Mundo Match yet — but here's the closest ingredient overlap we found across the world's cuisines.
