It can be daunting to start making a new style of food. Most ethnic cuisines involve complex spice mixes, and sometimes it seems that to make something at home you'll need a shopping list a mile long. So instead start small by making some condiments!
Ethnic cuisines have very specific flavors and condiments that go with their signature dishes. An easy way to break into a new cuisine is to experiment with their condiments! Just take a look at different sauces, dips and spreads from the cuisine you have interest in, pick up a piece of your favorite bread, pita, or naan, and have a taste! By making something in a small batch it's easier to gain confidence as you start to get a feel for the new flavors, spices and groceries coming into your kitchen.
Related: Ingredient Spotlight: Harissa
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One of the best African meals I ever had was fuul. It's a breakfast dish that I tried at an Eritrean restaurant in DC. Here's a Yelp user's photo of fuul. I'd love to know more about the dish and how to make it at home! Seems like it could be an easy breakfast to prep and serve if one had the right spices/condiments to do it.
Here's a bunch of info about it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ful_medames
It doesn't have any unusual spices in it.
Would be nice to link to some recipes of, you know, ethnic condiments.