Ethiopian
Gluten freeBuna qalaa (Oromo butter-roasted coffee beans)
Buna qalaa: coffee beans roasted in butter with a pinch of salt, a blessing snack
Among the Oromo, buna qalaa is less a snack than a ritual: coffee beans are roasted in butter and shared at weddings, after a birth, at Irreecha and when elders bless a new undertaking, each guest taking a small spoonful. The beans turn glossy and dark, crunchy outside and slightly chewy within, with a bitter-sweet roast flavour, a rich buttery coating and a touch of salt. Some families use green beans and roast them right through in the butter, which is what this recipe does. Buy raw (green) coffee beans from a coffee roaster or Ethiopian shop. They are very high in caffeine, so serve a tablespoon each and keep them away from children. A common slip is frying the beans on high heat, which burns the butter before the beans are roasted. Chef's tip: keep the heat low and patient; on a high flame the butter burns black long before the beans are roasted inside.
- Prep
- 2 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Serves
- 6
- Per serving
- 85 kcal
Ingredients
- 3 ½ oz green coffee beansunroasted
- ¼ tsp salt
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Pick over 3 ½ oz green coffee beans and remove any broken beans or husks.
Step 2: Melt 1 ⅜ oz unsalted butter or niter kibbeh in a heavy frying pan over a low heat until it foams.
2 minStep 3: Add the beans and stir constantly for 10–14 minutes until they turn evenly dark brown, smell of roasted coffee and you hear a few faint cracks. Lower the heat if the butter starts to smoke.
12 minStep 4: Take off the heat, sprinkle with ¼ tsp salt and stir to coat.
Step 5: Spoon into a small bowl and serve warm, a spoonful per guest, alongside the coffee ceremony.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 85 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 4 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does buna qalaa (Oromo butter-roasted coffee beans) take?
- About 17 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
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