What to Eat in Georgia: Typical Georgian Food and Specialties
Diverse Georgian cuisine offers many dishes that blend influences from Europe and Asia. The most famous traditional Georgian dish is probably khachapuri, a cheese-filled bread, and juicy meat dumplings called khinkali. Pkhali is a renowned appetizer made from vegetables and a walnut paste. For those with a sweet tooth, churchkhela will satisfy your cravings. And, of course, one cannot forget the excellent Georgian wine.
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What to Eat in Georgia:
- Khachapuri. Traditional Georgian pastry filled with cheese, popular across the country as a quick snack or as a side dish to a main meal.
- Khinkali. Meat dumplings boiled in water, typical of Georgian cuisine and served as a main course.
- Mtsvadi. Grilled marinated meat, most often pork or lamb, popular as street food or during garden parties.
- Lobio. Bean soup or dip, often served with bread, widespread throughout Georgia.
- Soko Kecze. A mushroom dish, often prepared with onions and spices, popular as a side dish or a standalone meal.
- Kupati. Grilled sausages filled with minced meat and spices, typical of Georgian cuisine.
- Churchkhela. Traditional Georgian sweet made from nuts strung on a thread and dipped in thickened fruit juice.
- Sulguni. Semi-hard salty cheese, often used in khachapuri or served as a standalone dish.
- Chakhokhbili. Stewed chicken with tomatoes, onions, and spices, a popular main dish in Georgia.
- Tkemali. Plum sauce, often used to flavor meat or as a dip.
- Pkhali. A paste made from walnuts and various kinds of vegetables, popular as a cold appetizer.
- Kharcho. A thick soup made from meat, walnuts, and spices, typical of Georgian cuisine.
- Shotis Puri. Traditional Georgian bread baked on the walls of a clay oven, an indispensable part of Georgian cuisine.
- Elarji. Cornmeal porridge with sulguni cheese, typical of the Samegrelo region in western Georgia.
- Ghomi. Cornmeal porridge similar to Italian polenta, often served as a side dish.
- Nadughi. A cheese paste made from ricotta and mint, used, for example, as a filling for khinkali dumplings.
- Pelamushi. A dessert made from grape juice and cornmeal, similar to pudding.
- Tklapi. Dried fruit leather, most often made from plums or grapes, used as a base for sauces or eaten as a snack.
- Sacebeli. Georgian sauce made from tomatoes, onions, and spices, used to flavor many dishes.
- Tarkhuna. A non-alcoholic drink made from tarragon, a popular refreshing soda in Georgia. The soda has a distinct green color.
Enjoy Georgia and the best Georgian food!