
East Africa · Breakfast
Kitcha Fit-fit (Torn Unleavened Flatbread Tossed in Spiced Ghee and Berbere)
Skillet-baked unleavened whole wheat flatbread torn into ragged bites and drenched in aromatic spiced butter, vibrant berbere, and cool yogurt.
The story
Across the urban centers and highland farmsteads of Eritrea, kitcha fit-fit remains the quintessential morning dish prepared before long days of physical labor or church gatherings. The dish relies on kitcha, an unleavened skillet bread that must be dense enough to drink in the seasoned fat without dissolving into porridge. Cooked quickly over high heat, the bread develops charred blister spots that lend an indispensable smoky depth to the rich spiced butter coating.
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