Berbere Crispy Chicken with Chickpea Wat

I took a trip to eastern Africa tonight with my Ethiopian favorite .. "Berbere Crispy Chicken" with "Chickpea Wat" and "Flatbread". Ethiopian cuisine is "home-style cooking" at its best. It transforms the humblest ingredients into something extraordinary.

The "berbere" spice blend is the heart of this cuisine. It's chile-based blend is earthy, sweet, and hauntingly aromatic, with notes of fragrant cardamom, fenugreek, and clove. But beware .. there is heat to be sure with some versions being wildly spicy.

The "Chickpea Wat" or stew is equally delicious and features a blend of berbere spice as well as chicken stock, tomato, onion, carrot, potato and sweet peas.

This is a dynamite stew and when eaten with flatbread instead of a spoon brings the cultural experience to life.