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Chuko (Tigrayan roasted barley and spiced butter snack)
Chuko: roasted barley flour kneaded with niter kibbeh and berbere, pressed firm
Tigrayan mothers pack chuko for sons and daughters leaving home, for pilgrims walking to Aksum and for long bus journeys, because it keeps for weeks and a small piece goes a long way. Roasted barley flour is rubbed with warm niter kibbeh, berbere and a little sugar and salt, then pressed into a dense cake or shaped into fingers. The texture is crumbly and rich, like a savoury shortbread that melts in the mouth, with a slow chilli warmth and the toasty taste of the grain. It is eaten with coffee or black tea. The usual mistake is skimping on the butter, which leaves a dry mix that will not hold; squeeze a handful, and it should keep its shape. Chef's tip: warm the butter until just liquid, not hot, and work it in with your fingertips so every grain of flour is coated.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz roasted barley flourbesso, see our recipe
- 6 tbsp niter kibbehwarmed until just melted; see our recipe
- 1 ½ tsp berbere
- 1 tbsp sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 tbsp warm waterapproximately
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: If 10 ½ oz roasted barley flour is not already dark, toast it in a dry pan over a low heat for 5–8 minutes, stirring, until it smells of toast. Cool for 10 minutes.
15 minStep 3: Pour in 6 tbsp niter kibbeh and rub it in with your fingertips for 3 minutes until the mix looks like damp sand.
3 minStep 4: Sprinkle in 3 tbsp warm water a spoonful at a time, mixing, until a handful holds together firmly when squeezed.
Step 5: Press firmly into a lined 18 cm tin, or squeeze into finger shapes in your fist. Chill for 30 minutes to set, then cut into pieces. Keep airtight in a cool place for up to 2 weeks, or in the fridge in warm weather.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 220 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 28 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does chuko (Tigrayan roasted barley and spiced butter snack) take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- 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 sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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