The world highly underappreciated Georgian foods, especially compared to European and Asian cuisines. This has to change, starting with you!
With adapted flavors from the Mediterranean and Greece along with influences from Persia and Turkey, all the dishes in Georgia are delicious and unique in their own ways.
Whether you’re planning to find the best dishes in Georgia or trying to learn some new recipes, this article has got you covered!
Georgia is mainly known for its savory dishes since people rarely make dessert here. So if you’re ready to learn about the most famous Georgian savory meals, let’s get started!
Georgian Meat Dishes
First, I will list some of Georgia’s most well-known and well-loved meat dishes. This nation has a lot of options when it comes to meat and its various types. Whether you like lamb, pork, beef, or chicken, Georgia will have a dish for you!
1. Chakapuli – Lamb/Veal and Tarragon Stew
Chakapuli is a traditional Georgian stew made with lamb chops, veal, spring onions, sour cherry plum, or tkemali (cherry plum sauce).
You can also boost the flavor of this stew with various herbs and seasonings like parsley, coriander, mint, dill, and garlic.
It is among the popular dishes for Georgian dinner. Locals often serve Chakapuli hot during the Orthodox Easter feast with Georgian bread on the side. If you don’t enjoy the taste or smell, don’t worry, it has another version with beef or mushrooms.
2. Chanakhi – Lamb Stew
Chanakhi is another filling and comforting lamb stew, but with the addition of tomatoes, potatoes, and aubergines. This fascinating stew is made in layers, with lamb at the bottom and vegetables stacked on top.
Chanakhi used to be split into individual portions and cooked in small pots. However, nowadays, people often prepare the stew in a big pot to save time.
The meltingly delicate lamb and rich, savory sauce undergo a remarkable transformation in the oven, bringing all the flavors together. When reheated the next day, all ingredients will be mixed, making the stew more flavorful and tasty.
Overall, this is a hearty and satisfying dish for a chilly winter evening. Chanakhi tastes the best with cheese and bread.
3. Chakhokhbili – Chicken Stew
Chakhokhbili is a popular Georgian stewed chicken dish with tomato and fresh herbs.
In the past, people used pheasant meat to make the stew. In fact, the name itself is derived from the word khokhobi, meaning pheasant in Georgian. But since pheasant is relatively inaccessible nowadays, chicken becomes a go-to alternative.
The trick to making the most delicious bowl of Chakhokhbili is to use homegrown tomatoes – great news for anyone who lives near a farm or has their own garden.
Chakhokhbili is not only delicious and aromatic, but it’s also healthy. So be sure to grab a bowl when you have the chance to visit Georgia.
4. Kharcho – Beef Soup
Kharcho (or Harcho) is a Georgian soup made with fatty pieces of beef (typically chuck or brisket), cherry plum puree, rice, and chopped walnut. The locals sometimes add a bit of Khmeli-suneli (a traditional Georgian spice mix) to the soup to bring it to the next level.
Another critical ingredient of Kharcho is the cherry plum puree, a souring agent made from tkemali that gives this thick and hearty soup a distinctive flavor.
This famous winter soup is often served with crusty bread. You can also pair it with a glass of fine Georgian wine to make the experience more enjoyable.
5. Khinkali – Dumplings
Dumplings are a popular food in China. So how about Georgian-style dumplings? Indeed, eating dumplings has always been a thrilling adventure for your mouth, no matter how they taste. Khinkali, a well-known dumpling in Georgian cuisine, is no exception.
These delectable dumplings look like twisted dough knobs filled with spices and meat. This Georgian delicacy for lunch usually has minced meat (lamb, pork, or beef), onions, chili, cumin, and salt. However, people now also replace meat with potatoes, mushrooms, and cheese.
Khinkali is comparable to Chinese soup dumplings (Xiao Long Bao), except they’re much bigger. Traditionally, these delicious little bags of goodies are served on giant platters and shared among friends.
To prevent the dumpling from bursting, hold it with your hand, turn it upside down, and suck the juices out before taking a mouthful. Using a fork or other utensils is not recommended.
The top, where the pleats connect, is quite hard and should not be eaten. Instead, people will put it back on the plate to keep track of the number of dumplings they’ve eaten.
6. Satsivi – Chicken in Garlic Walnut Sauce
This delicious Georgian meal consists of chicken cooked in a walnut sauce. During Christmas and New Year, the locals will use turkey instead of chicken. Satsivi is also a general title for a wide range of poultry-based dishes cooked with walnut sauce.
Served with rice, Lavash flatbread – a classic Middle Eastern dish that originated in Armenia, and a simple garden salad, Satsivi is the perfect dish to satisfy your comfort food cravings during cold winter days.
This dish truly stands out among a plethora of savory Georgian dishes since Georgian foods are usually heavy on grilled meats, herbs, and spices. However, this dish is healthy, nutritious, yet easy to prepare.
7. Kuchmachi – Chicken Giblets
Livers or offals might not be everyone’s favorite food. But if you consider yourself an adventurous foodie, Kuchmachi is definitely a must-try.
Kuchmachi is a well-known Georgian dish consisting of a chicken’s livers, kidneys, hearts, spleens, and gizzards. Sometimes, pig or bull offals can replace chicken offals.
Onions, garlic, and seasonings like coriander and bay leaves are used for cooking the offal. This dish will then be served hot with walnuts and pomegranate seeds sprinkled on top for flavor enhancement.
Kuchmachi is not only delicious, but it also has a ton of health benefits. Pomegranate may support the immune system, while vitamin A from the chicken liver helps protect your vision.
8. Mtsvadi – Grilled Pork Skewers
If you want some barbecues for lunch, then Mtsvadi is hands-down the best dish to satisfy your craving. Mtsvadi is a skewered and grilled meat cube meal similar to Shish kebab in unique Turkish cuisine. It is known by various names throughout Central Asia and became popular in the 19th century.
Originally, people used grilled lamb meat to make Mtsvadi. However, Mtsvadi can now be cooked using beef, pork, or chicken. This dish tastes best with sour plum sauce and pomegranate seeds.
Pan-frying is a common method, but the locals prefer grilling these meat skewers in a mangal (Middle Eastern grilling apparatus) to maintain the juicy taste. People often cook Mtsvadi outdoors during social gatherings, just like how the Americans host BBQ parties.
9. Tolma/Dolma – Stuffed Vine Leaves
People have had meat-stuffed vegetables for a very long time. From cabbage rolls to stuffed peppers or tomatoes, the combination of meat and veggie never disappoints. Tolma, a stuffed vine leaves dish, is one of those dishes.
Tolma, also called Dolma in Azerbaijan cuisine, or Armenia and Turkey, is a popular Georgian and international dish with numerous variations. Although most people don’t usually associate stuffed vine leaves with Georgia cuisine, no one can deny their popularity in this country.
Georgian Vegetarian Dishes
Although the meat dishes in Georgia are genuinely fantastic, the traditional veggie-based dishes deserve some attention too. Be healthy and go for veggie-based dishes from time to time. Don’t worry; Georgia will never run out of vegetarian dishes to try.
10. Lobio – Bean Stew
Lobio is a classic Georgian meal made with coriander, walnuts, onion, and garlic and made with several types of beans (either boiled or stewed).
Lobio has both hot and cold versions, suitable for any season of the year. The cold one (Lobio Nigvzit) can have herbs, marigold petals and vinegar. The hot version contains meat and is served in a clay pot with a side of cornbread.
Originated in Georgia, Lobio has been a go-to dish for the people of this country for years and years. Today’s most popular version of this bean stew utilizes red kidney beans, a staple food of the Americas that were introduced to Georgia after the 1500s.
Lobio is easier to make than you think; check this out and find out!
11. Ajapsandali – Eggplant Stew
This typical Georgian vegetable stew calls for many vegetables, such as eggplants, potatoes, and bell peppers. Ajapsandali is usually available around the end of summer when the veggies are bountiful. However, it can also be a great comfort food during winter.
This is also an excellent vegetarian recipe in Asia. The chosen veggies are stewed, grilled, or fried in vegetable oil and seasoned with garlic, dry coriander, and basil to make this dish. Ajapsandali is usually served as part of a family supper in Georgia.
If you’re a fan of the worldwide famous Ratatouille from France, this dish will surely make you smile. Ajapsandali is also a well-loved dish in Armenia and the North Caucasus.
12. Pkhali – Spinach and Walnut Spread
Pkhali is a chopped and minced Georgian vegetable dish made with different veggies, garlic, herbs, and ground walnuts. Although Pkhali used to be a famine food, it is still a common and well-loved dish among other modern Georgian recipes.
Sometimes this dish can be called a Mkhali. Pkhali also has many variations, the most well-known being chicken Pkhali, or Katmis Mkhali.
The traditional pâté usually comes in three types in Georgian restaurants: spinach (as shown above), beetroot, and white beans.
13. Ajika – Red Peppers Paste
Ajika or Adjika is a hot, spicy, yet mildly flavored Georgian-Abkhazian paste. Ajika is not just a regular paste to flavor foods; it is an essential part of Georgian cuisine and history. The Ajika technology was even included on Georgia’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018.
This paste includes garlic, salt, red peppers, and spices. You can eat it raw as a paste or use it to flavor a variety of Georgian foods like grilled meats, seafood, soups, vegetables, and salads.
Ajika traditionally uses sun-dried red peppers, but there’s also a version with unripe peppers. But in this case, Ajika will be green, not red. In Georgia, the dish consists entirely of peppers. However, a milder version with tomatoes or tomato paste is popular in Russia and Ukraine.
Georgian Breads
If you consider yourself a fan of carbs, this is the section for you! There are many kinds of bread, but bread in Georgia is not like anything you have seen before. The shape, the texture, the fillings, everything about them will leave you in awe.
14. Khachapuri – Cheese Bread
Khachapuri is a traditional Georgian dish featuring fluffy handmade bread, fresh or aged cheeses, and a runny egg in the middle. People will leaven the bread and let it rise before shaping it into different forms. Overall, it’s super cheesy and tasty.
This cheesy bread has a boat shape to honor the sailors and fishermen. The egg yolk, on the other hand, represents the sun that they often see on their journey at sea. This delectable bread is one of the most mouthwatering Georgian breakfasts. However, you can eat it as a side dish for supper alongside other Georgian dishes such as Chakhokhbili, a herbed chicken stew.
When you order this magnificent dish, you must first combine the cheese and yolk with a spoon. Then, while it is still hot, tear off a piece of bread at the corner, dip it in the cheesy mix and enjoy.
It’s also available at several Kiosks along Georgian highways. The people here love this dish so much that they even dedicated a special day (27th February) to celebrate this timeless pastry.
15. Lobiani – Bean Bread
If you’re lactose intolerant or not a fan of cheese, maybe you should go for some Lobiani. The texture of Lobiani is quite similar to Khachapuri. However, Lobiani contains bean paste instead of cheese and eggs. Lobiani is slightly healthier as well.
This fresh, flaky bean-filled bread is a one-dollar handheld meal that captives Georgian visitors for many years. Although the combination of beans and bread might sound basic, this buttery flatbread with flavorful beans will get you hooked after the first bite.
16. Shotis Puri – Baton Bread
People will certainly talk about Shotis Puri when they think of Georgian bread. With a unique shape and crispy texture, Shotis Puri is undoubtedly one of the best traditional bread in this nation.
This standard table bread can be eaten anytime, anywhere in Georgia. However, it is more prevalent during special occasions and holidays like birthdays, weddings, Christmas, Easter, and New Year’s Eve.
To make this tasty bread, long strands of dough adhere to the inside of a round-shaped brick or clay oven (also known as a tone in old Georgian). That is the reason behind Shotis Puri’s distinctive shape.
17. Tonis Puri – Flatbread
Tonis Puri is nearly identical to Shotis Puri in terms of taste, texture, and even cooking method. What sets Tonis Puri apart is its shape. This Georgian flatbread has the classic round shape everyone knows and loves, similar to the Naan bread in India.
However, the locals seem to favor its cousin, the Shotis Puri. Tonis Puri is also lesser-known among foreign visitors.
Georgian Desserts
After filling yourself up with meat dishes, this might be a great time to think about all the flavorful sweet treats in Georgia. As I mentioned earlier, Georgia is not widely known for desserts. But that doesn’t mean there is no national dessert in this country.
So get ready to complete your culinary journey by trying the delectable desserts below!
18. Matsoni – Yogurt
Not all desserts have to be unhealthy and fattening; allow Matsoni to prove it! This Georgian yogurt is quite sour, so it tastes best when paired with drizzles of honey and fresh fruit. This dessert is also a must-try food in Armenia. And this shall be the perfect breakfast-time snack.
Besides, Matsoni can also be an excellent savory side dish when served with Khachapuri and meat-based dishes.
If you want to try Matsoni, I advise you to buy it straight from the farm. Not only will it taste fresher and more delicious, but it also contains some medicinal properties that are beneficial for the human body.
19. Churchkhela – Snickers/Grape and Walnut Candies
When it comes to the national dessert of Georgia, who can forget Churchkhela? This sweet treat contains grape must and flour. Some said the locals use leftovers from the winemaking process to make these candle-shaped candies.
Once the mixture thickens, walnuts (or almonds, hazelnuts, and occasionally raisins) are threaded onto a string, dipped in the sweet grape mix, and dried in the shape of a candle. This traditional method was inscribed on Georgia’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Churchkhela is a typical dessert at Christmas and New Year. In the past, Georgian wives used to send their husbands Churchkhela since this treat is filling and can last for a long time.
Check out this short clip to see how the Georgians prepare Churchkhela!
20. Pelamushi – Sweet Grape Pudding
Remember the sweet coating mixture for Churchkhela that I mentioned earlier? This mixture can be used to make a different dessert: the Pelamushi.
Pelamushi is a grape-flavored dessert porridge or pudding with flour and condensed grape juice. This delightful yet straightforward dessert usually makes its appearance during the harvest season.
21. Gozinaki – Caramelized Walnut Candy
Gozinaki is a classic Georgian dish made with honey-fried and caramelized nuts (mainly walnuts). These traditional candies are frequently shaped into diamonds and eaten during New Year’s Eve and Christmas.
Gozinaki used to be called Churchkhela in the western Georgian provinces of Imereti and Racha, which is understandable since both recipes call for walnuts. Walnuts and honey were once considered sacred in numerous rural Georgia communities.
Sharing Is Caring!
If you have the chance to travel to Georgia, then good for you! You will now have the opportunity to experience this country’s culture and cuisine as well as try the most beautiful traditional meals with the locals.
Before your trip, don’t forget to jot down the names mentioned above. Try them all out if you can. Life’s short; enjoy yourself!
I hope you had fun reading this article, remember to leave a like and comment below the dish you’re looking forward to the most.
Also, sharing is caring! So be sure to send this link to your friends and loved ones to help them learn more about Georgian cuisine. Thank you for being so supportive! Take care and see you all next time!
