The Food We Should All Be Trying In Georgia

When we talk about Georgia, your mind may immediately go to the US state. However, in this instance, we're actually thinking about somewhere much further afield on the other side of the Atlantic. Yes, the country of Georgia - home of sulfur baths, the first Europeans, and some of the most amazing food.

If you've never sampled any of the delicacies from this part of the world, now is an excellent time to change that. Taking culinary influences from Eastern Europe and the Middle East, its dishes are probably something you might not encounter often. However, that's all the more reason to indulge while on vacation here.

Ostri is a hearty dish with a kick for fans of spice

Plenty of people like their food to have a nice kick to it. If you can relate, you'll want to sample ostri at some point. This is a spicy beef stew that blends mushrooms, red pepper, and tomato sauce with garlic, herbs, and spices. A hearty meal that won't leave you hungry, it bears a lot of similarities to chashushuli. However, what separates the two is primarily the way that they're cooked. All of the ingredients are cooked at the same time with ostri, whereas with chashushuli, the meat is done separately and later combined. While both dishes are great, ostri tends to have a meatier flavor because of how it's prepared.

Khinkali are meat dumplings that originated from the Georgian mountains

We tend to think of dumplings as an Asian dish. However, Georgia also has their own version known as khinkali. Apparently originating from mountainous regions like Mtiuleti and Pshavi, they usually feature pork or veal cooked with onions, chili pepper, and herbs. As a broth is also often added to the meat, it can be quite a deceptively juicy treat. Of course, that extra liquid just elevates the dish and makes it as delicious as possible. If you're eager to try them yourself, Maspindzelo is often recommended as one of the best places for high-quality khinkali.

Khachapuri is a slice of heaven for all the carb lover's 

If you're someone who's not afraid of carbs, khachapuri is absolutely worth trying while in Georgia. It brings two of the best carbs together - cheese and bread - for a delicious and filling meal that you won't forget quickly. How your khachapuri will look depends entirely on where you buy it, with each region having its own distinct style that really brings out the flavor. For instance, the cheese can vary between the likes of feta, mozzarella, and Imeretian cheese, with some places serving it layered like a lasagna. However it comes, though, it's sure to leave a big impression on you.

Pkhali is a dish that often makes use of whatever's around

Plenty of places around the world have their share of dishes that are basically just a combination of whatever was in the kitchen. Pkhali seems to be one such delight in Georgia, with people often making it with any vegetables they can find. From spinach and eggplants to cabbage and beets, you can get a wide variety of ingredients in these "chopped salads." They're typically combined with onion, garlic, walnuts, lemon juice - or vinegar - and cilantro to create a dish that can either be enjoyed as a side or main. How you have it is up to you and how much of an appetite you have during your time in Georgia.

Elarji might look questionable, but it's an undeniably delicious cheese dish

To look at elarji without knowing what it is, your mind may go to all sorts of places. Is it cream? Dough? Something else entirely? The answer becomes clear once you feel the texture of this stuff and sample it. Elarji is a combination of cornmeal, cornflour, and sulguni cheese that's cooked for around an hour. Its thick, elastic consistency can make it quite fun to play around with. However, it's better off going in your mouth, given how delicious it is. You'll want to head somewhere like Mapshalia to try this dish out, as they do it justice like nowhere else. 

Churchkhela are nuts coated in grape juice that also double as decorations

Churchkhela is another food that may confuse you at first, but that's probably because they often double as a decoration. It's apparently not uncommon to see these things hung up all over the place across Georgia, although many people do eat them as well. If you've never seen one before, they're basically a collection of nuts - almonds, hazelnuts, or walnuts - soaked in grape juice. They're supposedly often threaded first before being coated in the liquid - along with sugar and flour - to ensure the outer layer is nice and thick. After drying for several days, the nuts are then ready to sell and eat to anyone with a sweet tooth.

There's tons to love about Georgia, from its history and architecture to its stunning views. However, you could easily base an entire vacation around the food here because there are just so many mouth-watering dishes worth trying out.