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Chakhokhbili
Chicken with tomatoes and herbs
Chakhokhbili (ჩახოხბილი): Georgian chicken stewed with tomatoes and herbs
Chakhokhbili was first made with pheasant (khokhobi), but in Georgian homes from Tbilisi to Kutaisi today it is an everyday chicken stew, the kind cooked on a weeknight and served with bread to wipe the plate. Chicken pieces are browned without oil, then simmered with a lot of onion and ripe tomato, garlic, chilli and khmeli suneli spice, and finished with a big handful of fresh coriander, basil and dill. Chef's tip: brown the chicken skin side down in a dry pan; it releases enough fat to cook the onions.
- Total time
- 70 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the stew
- 3 onionsthinly sliced
- 1 ¾ lb ripe tomatoespeeled and chopped (or 2 tins)
- 4 cloves garliccrushed
- 1 fresh green or red chillifinely chopped
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 1 large handful fresh coriander, basil and dillchopped
- ⅔ oz butter (optional, traditional) (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put 2 ⅝ lb chicken thighs and drumsticks, skin on skin side down in a dry, wide pan over a medium heat and cook for 10 minutes until golden and the fat runs. Turn and brown the other side for 3 minutes.
13 minStep 2: Push the chicken aside, add 3 onions (and ⅔ oz butter (optional, traditional) if using) and cook for 8 minutes in the chicken fat until soft.
8 minStep 3: Add 1 ¾ lb ripe tomatoes, 2 tsp khmeli suneli spice blend, 1 tsp sweet paprika and 1 ½ tsp salt, cover and simmer for 25–30 minutes, stirring now and then, until the chicken is tender and reaches 165°F next to the bone and the sauce is thick.
30 minStep 4: Stir in 4 cloves garlic, 1 fresh green or red chilli and most of 1 large handful fresh coriander, basil and dill, cover and turn off the heat. Rest for 5 minutes. A common mistake is adding the herbs and garlic early; they lose their fresh punch, which is the point of the dish.
5 minStep 5: Serve scattered with the rest of the herbs, with bread or mchadi.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 470 kcal
- Protein
- 40 g
- Carbs
- 16 g
- Fat
- 27 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does chakhokhbili take?
- About 70 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onions?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of ripe tomatoes?
- Tinned chopped tomatoes: a 400g tin for about 6 tomatoes (in cooked dishes, not salads).
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