Tkemali sauce with khmeli-suneli
Description
Perfectly complements meat, poultry, and side dishes. The recipe for "Tkemali" sauce is not complicated; the main thing is to obtain sour plums, as traditionally the sauce is made precisely from them. In Georgia, this sauce is served with meat, fish, and vegetables. Tkemali ingredients always include garlic, coriander, red pepper, salt, and sugar. Herbs and spices (such as cilantro, dill, and fenugreek) are also often added, enhancing the flavor of the finished dish. I'll explain and show you how. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
1. To prepare tkemali with khmeli-suneli, we need to wash and sort the plums. Traditionally, tkemali plums are used, which are a type of cherry plum. The pit of this plum does not separate easily, so it is boiled and then strained through a sieve. I suggest using "Hungarian" or "Ugor" plums instead. These varieties easily separate from the pit and can be found almost everywhere in stores. They are quite common. So, sort the plums and remove the pits.
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Step 2
2. Add peeled red and green pepper, and hot chili pepper to the plums. Blend everything into a puree using an immersion blender. Alternatively, you can use a meat grinder.
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Step 3
3. To prepare the sauce, it is important to use spices such as khmeli-suneli. Store-bought versions are not as aromatic as a homemade blend. To make it yourself, use utscho-suneli seeds (see photo for reference), adding coriander, ground black pepper, and chamman. If this process seems too complicated, you can buy a ready-made mixture instead.
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Step 4
4. Add spices to the plum mixture, and simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes. As it boils, the mixture will gradually turn brown, becoming increasingly dark red in color.
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Step 5
5. At the end of cooking, add vinegar and press in the garlic. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes, then turn off the heat. The sauce can be sealed in sterile jars or stored in the refrigerator in jars with lids and used within 3 weeks.
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Step 6
6. Serve the sauce to the table. The taste of meat dishes will be excellent!