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Key sir alicha (mild beetroot and potato)
Ye-key sir alicha: beetroot and potato cooked gently with onion and garlic until soft and glossy
A magenta heap of key sir is the splash of colour on a beyaynetu fasting platter, served in restaurants all over Addis Ababa and at home through Lent. Being an alicha, it is mild rather than fiery: beetroot and potato cook slowly with onion, garlic, ginger and oil until tender and shiny, sweet and earthy with only a little heat from green chilli. It balances the hotter wats and cools the palate between bites of injera. A common mistake is cutting the beetroot too large, so the potato turns to mush before the beet is tender; cut the beet smaller, or give it a ten-minute head start. Chef's tip: cook it a day ahead if you can, because the flavours mellow and the potatoes take on even more colour overnight.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 red onionfinely chopped
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 garlic clovescrushed
- 1 tsp fresh gingergrated
- 1 ⅛ lb raw beetrootpeeled, in 1.5 cm cubes
- 10 ½ oz potatoespeeled, in 2 cm cubes
- 1 cup water
- 1 green chillislit lengthways
- ¾ tsp salt
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Cook 1 red onion in a dry pan over a medium heat for 5 minutes until soft, then add 3 tbsp vegetable oil, 3 garlic cloves and 1 tsp fresh ginger and cook for 2 minutes more until fragrant.
7 minStep 2: Add 1 ⅛ lb raw beetroot and 1 cup water, cover and simmer over a medium-low heat for 10 minutes.
10 minStep 3: Add 10 ½ oz potatoes, 1 green chilli and ¾ tsp salt, stir, cover and cook for 15–18 minutes until both vegetables are tender when pierced.
16 minStep 4: Uncover and cook for 2–3 minutes more, stirring gently, until the liquid has reduced to a glossy coating. Serve warm or at room temperature.
3 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 190 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 26 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does key sir alicha (mild beetroot and potato) take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of red onion?
- White onion or shallots, same amount (soak raw onion in cold water for 10 minutes to soften it).
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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