Chirbuli
Eggs in tomato walnut sauce
Chirbuli: Adjarian breakfast eggs in a tomato, onion and walnut sauce
Families in Batumi and the coastal villages of Adjara make chirbuli for slow weekend breakfasts: onions and ripe tomatoes stewed with a spoon of crushed walnuts and plenty of herbs, with eggs cracked into the sauce and cooked until just set, so the yolks run into it. It is a cousin of shakshuka with a Georgian walnut richness, eaten with bread to wipe up the plate. A common mistake is putting the lid on and walking away; the yolks overcook and go chalky in a minute. Chef's tip: grind the walnuts with garlic and coriander seed first, so they melt into the sauce instead of staying gritty.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
For the sauce
- ⅔ oz butter
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 3 ripe tomatoesgrated, skins discarded
- 1 oz walnuts
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- ¼ tsp hot paprika
- ½ tsp salt
To finish
- 4 eggs
- ⅓ oz fresh corianderchopped
- ⅛ oz purple basilleaves torn, optional
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Method
0/5 doneStep 2: Add 3 ripe tomatoes and ½ tsp salt and simmer for 6 minutes, until thick and jammy.
6 minStep 3: Pound 1 oz walnuts, 1 clove garlic, ½ tsp ground coriander and ¼ tsp hot paprika to a paste, stir into the tomatoes with a splash of water and simmer for 1 minute.
1 minStep 4: Make 4 hollows in the sauce and crack in 4 eggs. Cover and cook over a low heat for 3–5 minutes, until the whites are set and opaque but the yolks still wobble. Common mistake: leaving the lid on too long; check after 3 minutes.
5 minStep 5: Scatter with ⅓ oz fresh coriander and ⅛ oz purple basil and serve from the pan.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Protein
- 17 g
- Carbs
- 12 g
- Fat
- 30 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does chirbuli take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- 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 butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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