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Georgian recipe

How to make Pkhali

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The whole country

Pkhali
Photo: salvagekat, CC BY-SA 2.0

Finely chopped cooked vegetables mixed with a paste of walnuts, garlic, vinegar and herbs, shaped into balls or patties and topped with pomegranate seeds. Restaurants usually serve three kinds together: green spinach, deep red beetroot and white bean.

Serves 4 30 min

Ingredients

  • 500 g fresh spinach
  • 100 g shelled walnuts
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 small onion, very finely chopped
  • A handful of fresh coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander seed and a pinch of ground fenugreek
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, salt and a pinch of chilli
  • Pomegranate seeds to finish

Method

  1. Put the spinach in boiling salted water for 1 minute, drain, cool under cold water and squeeze out as much water as you can with your hands.
  2. Blend the walnuts, garlic, fresh coriander, spices, vinegar and a pinch of salt into a thick paste.
  3. Chop the spinach finely and mix it with the walnut paste and the onion. Taste and add salt or vinegar.
  4. Shape into small balls or flat patties, press a few pomegranate seeds on top, and chill for at least 30 minutes. It contains walnuts.
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