Tbilisi

Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital and largest city, is recognized for its distinctive architecture, which represents the city’s historic past and consists of an eclectic mix of Medieval, Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, Stalinist, and Modernist monuments. Tbilisi is well-known for its unique blend of old and new. This site never ceases to amaze, from historic sulfur bathhouses to modern architectural marvels. Tbilisi is now one of the safest cities in Europe, and it is regularly ranked among the most popular developing destinations, owing to Georgia’s burgeoning tourist sector.

In Tbilisi, you will find some delectable dishes that you just cannot miss! There are some mouth-watering dishes and tasty dishes like Khinkali, Georgian Salad, and Badrijani Nigvzit and many more. Continue reading to know more.

1. Khinkali

Khinkali meat filling is uncooked when khinkali is assembled, so when it is cooked, the juices of the meat are trapped inside the dumpling. To make khinkali juicier, usually warm water or broth is added to the minced meat. Khinkali is typically consumed first by sucking the juices while taking the first bite in order to prevent the dumpling from bursting.

The most popular places to try out Khinkali are klike’s khinkali, Beigel Shop and Khinkali House on Rustaveli / ხინკლის სახლი რუსთაველზე.

2. Georgian Salad

In Georgian dialect, a salad, unlike how we think of it, is just a loose term that means appetizer. A Georgian salad is made to be a light and refreshing appetizer while you wait for your main course, and of course, hopefully leave room for a dessert.

The most popular places to try out Georgian Salad are Egyptian Nights and Chacha Feeka Famous Lassi Peray Wali.

3. Badrijani Nigvzit

This delicious Georgian dish is very flavorful and contains some quite unique ingredients. Badrijani nigvzit is essentially a stuffed eggplant with the main components being fried eggplant as well as spiced walnuts and garlic paste. Traditionally served as a finger food, this meal includes a covering of walnut sauce and pomegranate seeds. Other ingredients used include blue fenugreek, tarragon vinegar and dried marigold.

The most popular places to try out Badrijani Nigvzit are erasmusu, LOST ANTHES and Chacha Feeka Famous Lassi Peray Wali.

4. Lobio

Lobio comes in a both hot and cold variety. The most common is the cold dish called lobio nigozit, typically made with dark red kidney beans which are cooked and then mashed with garlic, onions, walnuts, coriander, marigold petals, chili pepper and vinegar, and then allowed to marinate overnight. The hot version is usually made with white beans and may contain meat as well. Beans would be put in the pot with water and spices and allowed to sit overnight. The following day, the pot would be placed over a fire or, if available, in a small exposed oven, and the beans slowly cooked. At the appropriate stages, meat and other vegetables would be added to cook.

The most popular places to try out Lobio is Best Beer.

5. Khachapuri

A khachapuri is both a popular restaurant and street food in Georgia. The bread for khachapuri is leavened and allowed to rise and is shaped in various ways, usually with cheese in the middle and a crust which is ripped off and used to dip in the cheese. The filling contains cheese, fresh or aged, most commonly sulguni, eggs and other ingredients.

The most popular places to try out Khachapuri are Croissants, Vegan Tempeh Chili and Carousel Bakery.

6. Chinese Soup Dumplings

Chinese soup dumplings are traditionally filled with pork but one popular and common variant is pork with minced crab meat and roe. More modern innovations include other meats, seafood, shrimp, crab meat, and vegetarian fillings. This characteristic soup-filled kind is created by wrapping solid meat aspic inside the skin alongside the meat filling. Heat from steaming then melts the gelatin-gelled aspic into soup.

The most popular places to try out Chinese Soup Dumplings are Tbilisi, what a bagel, china panda and Georgia.

7. Ravioli

This traditional Italian cuisine consists of thin pasta envelopes that are usually stuffed with other ingredients. Ravioli are typically square in shape although they do come in round and semi-circular forms as well. The most common fillings for ravioli are cheeses and meats. They can be served in both a broth as a type of soup or alone on a plate with a simple sauce covering.

The most popular places to try out Ravioli are Melograno and 53 new oxford st.

8. Dolmas

Common vegetables for stuffing are tomato, pepper, onion, zucchini, eggplant and pointed gourd. Stuffed cabbage rolls and vine leaves are also very popular, which are sometimes also called sarma. Meat dolmas are generally served warm, often with tahini or avgolemono sauce. Dolmas prepared with olive oil and stuffed with rice are generally served cold with a garlic-yogurt sauce.

The most popular places to try out Dolmas are erasmusu, Beigel Shop and Christopher’s.

9. Chikhirtma

To add the uncooked eggs to the broth, eggs are blended into bowl with a little lukewarm broth, which is blended in turn with a little flour and some acid, usually pomegranate, lemon juice, wine or vinegar. This blend is added gradually to hot broth with constant stirring over 5–7 minutes. Herbs and spices, like chili powder, tagetes, leaves of coriander, basil, parsley, celery, cinnamon, peppermint, and seeds of coriander may be added.

The most popular places to try out Chikhirtma are Croissants and Egyptian Nights.

10. Mtsvadi

A cuisine exclusive to the country of Georgia, mtsvadi is a dish that consists of skewered shish kebabs. Usually mutton, veal or ground pork is used in the preparation. The meat is typically marinated in lemon and pomegranate juice which contains tarragon, salt, pepper and chopped up onions. The meat is then placed on skewers and cooked outside over an open fire fueled by coal.

The most popular places to try out Mtsvadi are what a bagel, Croissants and Christopher’s.

11. Chakapuli

Chakapuli is a Georgian stew made with lamb chops or veal, spring onions, fresh tarragon leaves, unripe sour cherry plums or cherry plum sauce, dry white wine, herbs, garlic and salt. It can also be made with beef or mushrooms in place of the lamb. The stew is especially popular in the spring when the cherry plums are still unripe.

The most popular places to try out Chakapuli are erasmusu, Christopher’s and Best Beer.

12. Walnut

Walnuts are a versatile ingredient used in many food preparations. The three varieties of walnuts include franquette, mayette and parisienne which vary in shape, color and flavor. Walnuts can be used in soups, pressed to extract walnut oil, turned into nougats or jams and eaten after being candied. They can also be used in salads, cheeses and placed inside or on top of cakes.

The most popular places to try out Walnut are butterfly hunter, Beigel Shop and bakery santa rita.

13. Kharcho

An example of a Georgian recipe for Kharcho is made using beef, lamb, pork, chicken or goose. Cut a cleaned, thoroughly washed piece of beef brisket into pieces, put it in 2 quarts of water, bring to the boil and simmer for 2–2.5 hours, skimming the foam. When the meat is soft add the rice; after 10 minutes add the chopped walnuts, allspice, bay leaf and peppercorns. When it is almost ready add the cherry plum paste, the spices, cerulea, coriander seed, paprika, Turkish smoked red pepper and then simmer for 5 minutes more. Adjust salt, add the fresh coriander, let it cool, and serve.

The most popular places to try out Kharcho are Best Beer, Carousel Bakery and Egyptian Nights.

14. Russian Pelmeni

Often called “the heart of Russian cuisine,” pelmeni is a dumpling made of minced meat wrapped in thin, unleavened dough. The filling can feature beef, pork, lamb, fish or venison. Mushrooms can also be used in place of the meat. Spices, herbs and onions could also be added to the mixture. Depending on the region, the pelmeni might also contain small amounts of cabbage, tomato and horseradish. The dish is often topped with sour cream, mayonnaise, dill, red onions or vinegar, all traditional to the various regions.

The most popular places to try out Russian Pelmeni are Christopher’s, 53 new oxford st and Best Beer.

15. Pkhali

A dish that is traditional in the country of Georgia, pkhali is a type of cuisine that consists of chopped and minced vegetables. It usually contains ingredients such as cabbage, eggplant, beans, beets and spinach. These vegetables are usually mixed with ground walnuts, garlic, vinegar, onions and herbs. Pkhali can be thought of as a type of vegetable pâté or spreadable salad.

The most popular places to try out Pkhali are Vegan Tempeh Chili and Shavi Lomi.

16. Satsivi

Traditionally, satsivi is made of walnuts, water, garlic, a combination of dried herbs, vinegar, cayenne pepper, and salt to taste. In this way, satsivi in the Caucasus is similar to the nut and/or legume-based paste sauces to the south, such as the hummus (which often contains garlic, lemon juice as a souring agent, and tahini, or sesame butter/paste) varieties found in Syrian, Lebanese, or generically Levantine cuisine.

The most popular places to try out Satsivi are Beigel Shop, Restaurant Georgian and Egyptian Nights.