Top 3 Georgian Beef Dishes

Similar to a goulash, chashushuli is a hearty beef and tomato stew hailing from Georgia. The stew is typically made with a combination of beef (sometimes veal or pork), tomatoes, onions, water or meat broth, garlic, and a generous amount of spices and herbs such as basil, chili pepper, parsley, fenugreek, summer savory, and bay leaves, yielding a highly aromatic and flavor-packed dish. Chashushuli is considered a version of another traditional Georgian beef stew called ostri, which uses almost all of the same ingredients as chashushuli, but it also contains coriander seeds and involves a different method of preparation. When preparing chashushuli, the meat needs to be fried before it is mixed with the rest of the ingredients and stewed, whereas the preparation of ostri requires no pre-cooking of the meat and everything is cooked in one pot from the beginning. Spicy and filling, the stew is typically served hot with Georgian bread such as shoti and a glass of fine Saperavi wine.Expand

Chakapuli is a popular Georgian stew consisting of either beef or lamb meat, unripe sour plums, onions, green peppers, white wine, and herbs and seasonings such as tarragon, coriander, garlic, and salt. It is especially popular during spring, when the plums are still unripe. Chakapuli is often served during the feast of Orthodox Easter, and it is recommended to serve it hot with Georgian bread on the side.Expand

Khashlama is a straightforward and traditional meat dish originating from the Caucasus region. Although time-consuming, the dish is made by simply boiling large chunks of meat, usually beef or lamb, in hot water. The traditional version of this famous dish does not include other ingredients, except a few spices, making the boiled pieces of meat the star of the dish. Because of this, khashlama contains only the finest meat cuts available. The origins of the dish believe to be in the Georgian Kakheti region, where it is regarded as a regional signature dish. However, it is also widely popular in the neighboring Armenia, causing disputes over the true origin of the dish. Traditionally, khashlama is prepared on an open fire, slowly, until the meat is perfectly tender. It is commonly flavored with onions, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Because it is rather time-consuming, the dish is usually served on special occasions, and it is a common staple of supra, a traditional Georgian feast. Boiled pieces of meat are commonly served hot and garnished with a generous amount of coarse salt and chopped parsley.Expand