Doro Shorba (Spiced Chicken Soup)

Doro shorba is Ethiopia’s chicken soup — a steaming bowl of broth, tender chicken, and vegetables with a gentle berbere warmth. Shorba simply means soup, and this is the version mothers make for cold days, tired evenings, and anyone who needs feeding twice. It is humble food in the best sense: built from what is in the kitchen, simmered until the broth turns golden, and served with injera to soak up the last drops.

A steaming bowl with a gentle berbere glow

The broth simmers long enough to turn rich and flavorful, with berbere lending a mild warmth that heats you from the inside without overwhelming. Carrots and potatoes go tender, the chicken shreds back into the pot, and a squeeze of lime at the end brightens the whole bowl. It is proof that Ethiopian comfort food is not only about stews — sometimes it is about soup, and this one is the kind you want on a rainy day, with a blanket and no plans. It also freezes well, so a double batch is never a mistake.

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