Ayib be gomen (fresh cheese with spiced collards)
Ayib be gomen: crumbly fresh ayib folded through finely chopped collards and warm spiced butter
Gurage cooks bring ayib be gomen to the table beside kitfo, and it is just as welcome on its own with kocho or injera on an ordinary non-fasting day. Soft, mild ayib is mixed with collards that have been boiled and chopped fine, then dressed with warm niter kibbeh, garlic and mitmita, so the creamy cheese cools the chilli and the greens add an earthy bite. Ayib is an acid-set cheese made by gently heating soured milk or buttermilk (or milk with lemon juice) until curds form, so it needs no rennet and suits vegetarians. Ricotta or well-drained cottage cheese are close substitutes; if you use a bought cottage cheese, check the label for vegetarian rennet. Do not heat the cheese in the pan, or it turns rubbery and weeps; fold it in off the heat. Chef's tip: squeeze the cooked greens until they are almost dry so the dish stays fluffy rather than watery.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 14 oz collard greensor kale; thick stems removed
- 14 oz ayibsee our recipe; or ricotta or drained cottage cheese
- 3 tbsp niter kibbehEthiopian spiced butter, see our recipe; or unsalted butter with a pinch of cardamom
- 2 garlic clovesfinely chopped
- 1 green chillifinely chopped
- ½ tsp mitmitaor 0.5 tsp cayenne plus a pinch of ground cardamom and clove
- ½ tsp salt
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Wash 14 oz collard greens and boil in salted water for 8–10 minutes until tender. Drain and cool under cold water.
9 minStep 2: Squeeze the greens hard by the handful until almost dry, then chop very finely.
Step 3: Warm 3 tbsp niter kibbeh in a pan over a low heat, add 2 garlic cloves and 1 green chilli and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
1 minStep 5: Crumble 14 oz ayib into the pan and fold through gently, leaving some pieces of cheese visible. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 270 kcal
- Protein
- 16 g
- Carbs
- 8 g
- Fat
- 20 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ayib be gomen (fresh cheese with spiced collards) take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 10 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 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.
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
- What can I use instead of green chilli?
- A pinch of chilli flakes per chilli.
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