Introduction:
Shkmeruli is a flavorful chicken dish from the Racha region of Georgia. It is traditionally made with a young chicken, cooked in milk and garlic. This recipe provides an alternative option of using sour cream instead of milk for a richer taste. Serve this delectable dish hot and enjoy the unique flavors of Georgian cuisine.
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
- 1 whole young chicken
- 50 grams of garlic
- 100 ml of milk (or 80 grams of sour cream, if preferred)
- 80 ml of water (100 ml if using sour cream instead of milk)
- 30 ml of oil
- Salt, to taste
Preparation:
- Cut the chicken lengthwise but do not separate it into two halves. Rub oil and salt onto both sides of the chicken.
- Flatten the chicken and add it to a pan of hot oil. Press it down to ensure even cooking. Use a pestle or another heavy object to keep the chicken flat.
- Fry both sides of the chicken until cooked through. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the pan and cut it into pieces. Do not discard the oil; it will be used to fry the garlic.
- Crush the garlic and add it to the oil in the pan used to cook the chicken. Stir the garlic and oil together.
- Add 80 ml of water (100 ml if using sour cream instead of milk) to the pan and heat on medium, stirring continuously.
- Add 100 ml of milk (or 80 grams of sour cream). Taste and add a little salt if needed. Stir until the mixture boils, then turn off the heat.
- Place the chicken pieces in an ovenproof dish. Pour the milk (or sour cream) and garlic mixture over the chicken pieces and place the dish in a hot oven for 3-5 minutes.
Serving: Serve the Shkmeruli hot.
Enjoy your Shkmeruli – Georgian Chicken in Milk and Garlic Sauce!