Recipe Catalog

Lula kebab with satsivi sauce and pickled onions is a refined dish that combines the rich aroma of spices and the tenderness of lamb. This recipe has roots in the culinary traditions of the Caucasus, where skewered meat became a symbol of cozy gatherings and warm meetings. Pickled onions add a piquant touch and slight acidity to the dish, while the velvety satsivi sauce complements it with a rich tomato flavor with hints of spiciness. With careful mixing of the minced meat and proper baking, lula kebabs turn out surprisingly juicy and melt-in-your-mouth tender. Serving with greens and fresh lavash makes this dish a complete gastronomic delight, perfect for both a cozy family dinner and festive gatherings.

Recipe by Eka Dzhikia, chef of the Riviera restaurant.

Satsabeli sauce is a vibrant embodiment of Georgian culinary tradition, characterized by a rich nutty-spicy flavor with sweet and sour notes. Its history traces back to ancient Georgian recipes where the harmonious blend of aromatic spices and fresh ingredients creates the perfect condiment for meat, fish, or vegetables. The base of the sauce is walnuts that give it a dense texture, while pomegranate juice adds a tangy acidity. Imeretian saffron, garlic, and cilantro provide special depth of flavor, while chicken broth adds softness and richness. Traditionally, satsabeli is served with roasted or stewed meat, creating a harmonious combination of flavors that highlights the natural aromas of Georgian cuisine.

Satsebeli is translated from Georgian as just a sauce, any sauce, without details or explanations. It is no coincidence that the recipe for this main Caucasian seasoning for shashlik is so changeable. It is originally fruit and berry, with sourish flavors like pomegranate or blackberry. But now the main version of satsebeli is considered to be tomato, in which they add sweet and hot peppers and hops-suneli. But they do not add greens: Mamia Dzhodzhua, chef of the Kazbek restaurant, who shared with us the recipe for traditional satsebeli, considers this a violation of the canons.

"Satsebeli" is translated from Georgian simply as "sauce", this dressing is the basic one in Georgian cuisine. It is prepared only from the ripest sweet seasonal tomatoes. Often satsebeli is served not only as a side dish, but also meat and poultry are stewed in it. The fact is that the acid, which is abundant in tomatoes, softens the veins and fibers well and helps to negotiate even with the most stubborn piece of meat. And adding grapes to the tomato thick gives the not very gastronomic drumsticks of an ordinary broiler a hundred steps forward both in taste and in the elegance of serving.

Satsebeli is translated from Georgian simply as "sauce", this dressing is the basic one in Georgian cuisine. It is prepared only from the ripest, sweetest, seasonal tomatoes. It is good for fried chicken, and for meat stew, and for fish. Satsebeli is served with any hot dish, almost spread on bread.