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Kulwa (Quick-Sautéed Spiced Beef or Lamb Strips with Chilis)
Tender strips of beef seared in spiced clarified butter with caramelized onions, fresh tomatoes, and fiery jalapeños.
The story
Kulwa is an iconic fast-cooked meat dish found everywhere in Eritrea, equally treasured in urban Asmara bistros and rural highland homes for weekend family lunches and festive gatherings. Unlike long-simmered stews (tsebhi), it is defined by intense heat, rapid stir-frying, and minimal cooking time to preserve tenderness. A master touch lies in the liberal use of tesmi (Eritrean spiced clarified butter), which coats every strip of seared meat with smoky undertones of fenugreek and sacred basil (korerima).
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