Ethiopian Chicken Alicha, Mild Stew

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📍 Where this dish comes from: Uganda, Kenya & Tanzania · Lake Victoria
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Ethiopian Chicken Alicha, Mild Stew, plated and ready to serve

Alicha is the quieter cousin of the wat family — no berbere, no chili heat, just a gentle, turmeric-warmed stew that lets the chicken and aromatics speak for themselves. It’s often the dish served to guests who prefer things milder, or simply on days when a lighter meal is what’s wanted.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients for Ethiopian Chicken Alicha, Mild Stew

Ethiopian Chicken Alicha, Mild Stew

Ethiopia's gentler stew tradition — the same patient onion base as doro wat, built without berbere for a milder, turmeric-forward dish.
Print Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: East African
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 330kcal

Ingredients

  • 2.5 lb bone-in chicken pieces skin removed
  • 3 tbsp niter kibbeh or ghee
  • 2 onions finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 jalapeño whole (for gentle flavor, not heat)
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  • In a dry, heavy pot over low heat, cook onions alone, stirring often, 15 minutes until deeply softened. Do not add fat yet.
  • Add niter kibbeh, garlic, and ginger. Cook 3 minutes until fragrant.
  • Stir in turmeric and cardamom, cook 1 minute.
  • Pour in broth, add the whole jalapeño, and bring to a simmer.
  • Add chicken pieces, nestling them into the sauce. Cover and simmer 30–35 minutes until tender.
  • Remove the whole jalapeño before serving.
  • Season with salt and serve hot.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 330kcal | Protein: 31g | Fat: 20g | Fiber: 2g
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Cooking Ethiopian Chicken Alicha, Mild Stew in the kitchen

Health Benefits

  • Chicken provides complete protein along with iron and zinc.
  • Turmeric’s curcumin content has been studied for anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Niter kibbeh’s clarified butter base delivers fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Pairs Well With

  • Ethiopian Gomen (Collard Greens)
  • Ethiopian Timatim Salata (Tomato Salad)
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