Authentic Shkmeruli Chicken Recipe
Shkmeruli Chicken is a traditional Georgian dish featuring tender chicken pieces simmered in a rich, creamy garlic sauce, seasoned with a unique blend of earthy spices.
Ingredients
- 1.5 kg whole chicken cut into 8 pieces
- 1 head garlic minced
- 250 ml full-fat milk or heavy cream
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 100 ml chicken broth or water
- 1 tsp salt to taste
- 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 0.5 tsp fenugreek powder blue or yellow
- 0.25 tsp dried marigold petals optional
Instructions
- Pat chicken pieces thoroughly dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and black pepper on all sides.
- In a small bowl, combine ground coriander, fenugreek powder, and dried marigold petals (if using). This is your homemade Shkmeruli spice blend.
- Melt butter in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces skin-side down and sear until deeply golden brown and crispy, about 5-7 minutes per side. Work in batches if necessary to avoid crowding the pan. Remove seared chicken and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Pour in chicken broth or water to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Stir in the homemade Shkmeruli spice blend.
- Slowly pour in the milk or heavy cream and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly.
- Return the seared chicken pieces to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Ensure the chicken is partially submerged.
- Cover the skillet and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and fork-tender. Uncover for the last 5 minutes if you wish for the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, garnished with fresh herbs if desired, alongside bread or polenta.
Notes
For an extra tang, some variations use a mix of milk and plain yogurt for the sauce. Serve Shkmeruli hot with Georgian bread (puri), polenta (ghomi), or plain rice to soak up all the delicious sauce. For best flavor, use fresh, high-quality chicken and garlic. You can use chicken thighs and drumsticks for a richer flavor, or a whole chicken cut into pieces.