ShilaplaviRice with lamb and spices
In Racha and Imereti, in western Georgia, shilaplavi is the dish of the kelekhi, the memorial feast held after a funeral and on remembrance days, when long tables are laid for family and neighbours. Lamb is simmered until tender and its broth used to cook rice with plenty of onion, coriander seed and blue fenugreek, so the grains turn soft and a little sticky, closer to a thick pilaf than a dry one. It is eaten quietly with bread, herbs and pickles. Chef's tip: use short-grain rice and don't rinse it too much; shilaplavi should be soft and clinging, not fluffy.
























