Beef in tsakhton
4 servings
60 minutes
Beef in tsakhtone is a gem of Georgian cuisine, combining the tenderness of boiled meat with the spiciness of a fragrant sauce. Tsakhtone, made from sour cream, garlic, fresh cilantro, and aromatic spices, gives the dish a rich flavor with subtle notes of herbs and spices. The origins of this dish trace back to Georgian feast traditions where the harmony of natural ingredients and richness of flavors are valued. The uniqueness of beef in tsakhtone lies in its versatility: it can be served as a standalone dish, as part of a festive table or as a refreshing appetizer. After resting in the fridge, the taste becomes even more pronounced, allowing each piece of meat to absorb the juicy notes of the sauce. This recipe reflects Georgian hospitality where every meal turns into an art of enjoying food.
1
Wash the meat and place it in a pot of boiling water.
- Beef: 400 g
2
Bring to a boil, reduce heat, skim off the foam, and simmer for 40-60 minutes. Add salt closer to the end of cooking.
- Salt: to taste
3
Cool the meat and cut it into strips across the fibers.
- Beef: 400 g
4
Prepare the tsakhton: peel the garlic and chop it finely or pass it through a garlic press. Wash the greens, dry them, and chop.
- Garlic: 2 cloves
- Fresh cilantro (coriander): 1 bunch
5
Wash the hot pepper, dry it, cut the pod and remove the seeds. Cut the required amount of pepper and dice it into small cubes.
- Red chili pepper: 0.5 piece
6
Place garlic, herbs, hot pepper, and a pinch of coarse salt in a mortar and grind (instead of a mortar, you can chop the herbs with garlic and pepper in a blender, in which case do not add salt).
- Garlic: 2 cloves
- Fresh cilantro (coriander): 1 bunch
- Red chili pepper: 0.5 piece
- Salt: to taste
7
In a bowl, combine sour cream, chopped herbs with garlic and pepper, and add khmeli-suneli.
- Sour cream: 180 g
- Fresh cilantro (coriander): 1 bunch
- Garlic: 2 cloves
- Red chili pepper: 0.5 piece
- Khmeli-suneli: 0.5 teaspoon
8
Mix the sauce well, season with salt to taste, and add some spices if needed.
- Salt: to taste
- Khmeli-suneli: 0.5 teaspoon
9
Pour sauce over the meat and mix. Place the meat in a container in the fridge and let it marinate for 1 hour.
- Beef: 400 g
- Sour cream: 180 g
