We all know that Georgian food is intensely underrated worldwide, especially compared to other European countries. If you want to impress the locals and compliment them on their cooking techniques, learning the basic Georgian cooking terms will undoubtedly help you out. Keep reading below to discover the best set of words today!
Georgian Food Guide: A Quick Look
Throughout history, Georgia has attracted the curiosity of many tourists, particularly those from the Caucasus Mountain region. Persians, Greek Mongols, Arabs, and Romans conquered this country, which has resulted in the country’s amazing range of delectable dishes.
Georgian cuisine is unique and varies between parts of the country. Western Georgian dishes may be attributed to Turkish cuisine, while Iranian influences dominate East-Central Georgian cuisine. For instance, Georgian-style cornbread is prevalent in the region in the west, but meat meals made from beef, pork, beef, or lamb are mostly found in the eastern region.
Common Georgian Foods
The following are some of the most well-known Georgian cuisines in the world:
Georgian Wine
Georgian wines are typically prepared from a mixture of two or more grapes. Georgian wines come in sweet, semi-sweet, semi-dry, dry, fortified, and sparkling varieties. The most popular are the semi-sweet versions.
Georgian Snickers
Georgian snickers are commonly made of nuts like hazelnuts or walnuts strung together as one and soaked in a creamy, syrupy sauce made from flour and fruit extracts like grape juice.
Georgian Desserts
Churchkhela, Gozinaki, and Pelamushi are some well-known Georgian desserts.
Georgian Soup
Sashi and Katatsuri are some of the Georgian soups usually served in every Georgian family.
Spicy Beef Stew
Ostri Chashushuli is Georgia’s most renowned Spicy beef stew, found in any Georgian restaurant in the country.
Georgian Bread
One of the most known Georgian bread is the Georgian Flatbread or the Georgian cheese bread called Kachapuri. Kachapuri is also known as the Traditional Georgian bread in the country.
Roasted Chicken
In Georgian cuisine, the roasted chicken comes in various flavors depending on the stuffing and sauce used. The majority of Georgians use chili pepper and other spices to their preference.
Vegetarian Dishes
Lobio, Pkhali, and Juicy Khinkali, or Georgian dumplings, are the most popular vegetable dishes on every Georgian table in the country. The majority of Georgian dumplings resemble Chinese soup dumplings.
Georgian Cooking Terms
Below are some of the basic terminologies that tourists should learn to speak confidently about topics related to Georgian food and cooking techniques.
Georgian Word | Pronunciation | English Word |
ქართული ვერსია | kartuli versia | Georgian version |
გრილზე | grilze | to grill |
ადუღება | adugheba | to boil |
ადუღებამდე | adughebamde | to boil down |
შეწვას | shets’vas | to braise |
მოხარშეთ ხორცი | mokharshet khortsi | to boil the meat |
დაჭრა | dach’ra | to chop |
ქურთუკი | kurtuk’i | to coat |
მოამზადოს | moamzados | to cook |
ჭრა | ch’ra | to cut |
ჩაძირვა | chadzirva | to dip |
დაითხოვოს | daitkhovos | to dissolve |
გასაფილტრად | gasapilt’rad | to filter |
შეწვას | shets’vas | to fry |
მინანქარი | minankari | to glaze |
გრილზე | grilze | to grill |
დაფქვა | dapkva | to grind |
მოზელვა | mozelva | to knead |
დასამარინადებლად | dasamarinadeblad | to marinate |
დნება | dneba | to melt |
გახეხვა | gakhekhva | to mince |
შეურიოთ ერთმანეთს | sheuriot ertmanets | to mix |
გაფცქვნა | gaptskvna | to peel |
ჩაჭედოს | chach’edos | to pinch |
დაასხით | daaskhit | to pour |
შემწვარი | shemts’vari | to roast |
შესაწვავად | shesats’vavad | to sauté |
სკუპაცია | sk’up’atsia | to scoop |
გაცრილი | gatsrili | to sift |
ადუღებამდე | adughebamde | to simmer |
დაჭრა | dach’ra | to slice |
აჭრელდეს | ach’reldes | to snip |
ორთქლზე | ortklze | to steam |
ჩაშუშოს | chashushos | to stew |
ჩაყრა | chaq’ra | to stuff |
შეფუთვა | sheputva | to wrap |
Common Ingredients In Georgian Recipes
Georgian Ingredients | Pronunciation | English Translation |
Ხაჭო | Ხach’o | cottage cheese |
ქართული იოგურტი | kartuli iogurt’i | Georgian yogurt |
crusty bread ქერქიანი პური | kerkiani p’uri | kerkiani p’uri |
ყველის პური | q’velis p’uri | cheesy bread |
შავი “პილპილი | shavi “p’ilp’ili | black pepper |
ჩილის წიწაკა | chilis ts’its’ak’a | chili pepper |
მოხარშული კვერცხები | mokharshuli k’vertskhebi | boiled eggs |
თეთრი ღვინო | tetri ghvino | white wine |
ქართული პური | kartuli p’uri | Georgian bread |
ქართული ყველი | kartuli q’veli | Georgian cheese |
ქართული ღვინო | kartuli ghvino | Georgian wine |
სიმინდის ფქვილი | simindis pkvili | corn flour |
ალუბლის ქლიავის პიურე | alublis kliavis p’iure | cherry plum puree |
დაჭრილი ახალი ქინძი | dach’rili akhali kindzi | chopped fresh coriander |
თირკმლის ლობიო | tirk’mlis lobio | kidney beans |
კარტოფილის პიურე | k’art’opilis p’iure | mashed potatoes |
ყურძნის წვენი | q’urdznis ts’veni | grape juice |
შემწვარი კარტოფილი | shemts’vari k’art’opili | roasted potatoes |
ხორცის კერძები | khortsis k’erdzebi | meat dishes |
დაფქული ხორცი | dapkuli khortsi | minced meat |
ცხვრის ხორცი | tskhvris khortsi | lamb meat |
მოხარშული ხორცი | mokharshuli khortsi | boiled meat |
ცხვრის ჩაშუშული | tskhvris chashushuli | lamb stew |
ველური ქლიავი | veluri kliavi | wild plums |
კაკლის სოუსი | k’ak’lis sousi | walnut sauce |
არაჟანი | arazhani | sour cream |
მწვანე პომიდორი | mts’vane p’omidori | green tomatoes |
გულიანი წვნიანი | guliani ts’vniani | hearty soup |
დაფქული ხორცი d | apkuli khortsi | ground meat |
ბროწეულის მარცვლები | brots’eulis martsvlebi | pomegranate seeds |
წითელი წიწაკა | ts’iteli ts’its’ak’a | red peppers |
კვერცხის გული | k’vertskhis guli | egg yolk |
ახალი მწვანილი | akhali mts’vanili | fresh herbs |
ნივრის სოუსი | nivris sousi | garlic sauce |
სუპი პელმენი | sup’i p’elmeni | soup dumplings |
მჟავე ქლიავის სოუსი | mzhave kliavis sousi | sour plum sauce |
Want To Boost Your Linguistic Skills In Georgian?
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