Georgian Cuisine: 10 Dishes You Must Try On Your Visit

Georgia, a beautiful country between Europe and Asia is worth visiting for its food alone. The country’s strategic location between the two continents has resulted in a remarkable fusion of flavors. It’s not wrong to say that the hearty and flavorful Georgian cuisine is the most comforting food in the world, it’s more like a warm hug. Just one taste of these amazing Georgia food items will stay with you for days on end. Come let’s dive deep into the extraordinary culinary delights this country has to offer.

10 Must Try Dishes From The Georgian Cuisine

If you ever visit Georgia, make sure to taste the whole range of different traditional Georgian food, for they are sure to give you a food coma. 

1. Khachapuri – Georgia’s Pizza

Khachapuri, the most comforting food of Georgia, also happens to be the national dish. The iconic boat-shaped famous Georgian food comes in many types. Imeretian, Megruli and Adjaruli Khachapuri are some of the finger-licking good ones. Due to the use of cheese, eggs, and butter, this dish is packed with carbohydrates and dairy. It’s essentially bread topped with all the above ingredients.

2. Khinkali – Soup Dumplings

This is another iconic Georgian cuisine which is quite juicy and tasty due to the distinctive use of Georgian spices. Thinly rolled dough is stuffed with tender minced meat like pork, lamb or beef. The stuffed dough is then cooked in its own juice. The veg version of the Khinkali is filled with mushrooms, cheese or potatoes instead of meat.

3. Churchkhela – Georgian Snickers

These traditional candle-shaped sweets are perhaps the most eye-catching Georgian food of all. It is made by dipping strings of almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts or raisins into concentrated fresh grape juice repeatedly and dried until it forms a chewy, waxy exterior. Churchkhelas are packed with protein and sugar and it’s often served with coffee.

4. Mtsvadi – Shashlik Or Kebab

Georgian cuisine includes a lot of barbecue options and one among them is Mtsvadi, a Georgian kebab cooked over an open flame. Chunks of pork, mutton or veal, are marinated in pomegranate juice or salt and are threaded onto a skewer and roasted over an open fire. Its distinctive smoky flavor from the naked flames is what makes these kebabs different from the rest. 

5. Lobio – Hearty Bean Stew

The word Lobio means kidney beans in Georgian and hence this dish is made of red kidney beans. This is relatively a simpler side dish made of kidney beans, walnuts, garlic, onions, and herbs. All the ingredients are slow cooked until it reaches a soupy consistency. The taste of this Georgian food varies depending on the ingredients used and the region you’re in.

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6. Phkali – Veggi Mousse

Pkhali, also known as the mkhali is a mousse made from a mix of veggies paste and combined with walnut paste and other herbs. All veggies like cabbage, carrots, eggplant, spinach, beans, and beetroots are smashed and mixed with vinegar, onions, garlic, and herbs. The final product is rolled into balls and garnished with pomegranate seeds. This healthy and flavorful dish can be had as an appetizer or can be enjoyed along with the other dishes. 

7. Kharcho – Hearty Beef Soup 

Another comforting dish in Georgian Cuisine is the Kharcho, a traditional Georgian beef soup. This dish is made by crushing walnuts and mixing with all the Georgian spices. After some time rice and meat is infused with spices and cooked until the meat falls off its bones. It’s a hearty dish that can be had on a cold winter night along with baskets of chewy shot bread.

8. Lobiani – Humble Flatbread

Lobiani is a bean-filled humble flatbread baked in a wood-fired oven. This dish is called a humble dish as it costs less than a dollar and can be consumed all day long. On the outside the bun is quite crispy but as you go inside, the buttery spiced bacon-scented beans are full of texture and taste. You can find them everywhere but the city’s oldest bread bakeries sell the best tasting ones.

9. Satsivi – Traditional Dish

Satsivi is a traditional and popular dish that stands out in Georgian cuisine. Meat like turkey or chicken is cooked in a rich walnut sauce and seasoned with garlic, onion, cinnamon, cloves, and coriander. This simple yet tasty dish provides complex flavors which is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. Its generally cooked on festivals and served cold as a main course or a side dish.

10. Badrijani Nigvzit – Delicious Appetizer

Badrijani Nigzvit is a delicious appetizer which consists of eggplant, spiced walnut, pomegranate and garlic paste. Thin strips of fried eggplants are rolled after it is stuffed with walnut-garlic paste and garnished with pomegranate seeds before serving. Even if you are not fond of eggplant, you surely are going to be a big fan of it after tasting this dish. 

Suggested Reads: Georgia Travel Guide: An Enticing Blend Of The East And West

Final Words

Georgian cuisine is not all about good food, it is more like participating in a cultural tradition where human connections are made with heartfelt hospitality. There is a famous saying in Georgia, “Every guest is a gift from God.” So at the table, toasts are made, memories are shared and exotic flavors go down your mouth, making your taste buds and mind happy. 

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