Beyond khachapuri and khinkali, there are few Georgian dishes out there that are as popular and well-known as satsivi and it really isn’t hard to see why.
This decadent dish that combines poultry with a luscious walnut sauce is commonly served at New Year’s Eve and Christmas supras in Georgia, however, it is also popular throughout the year. If you’re interested in trying this Georgian chicken in walnut sauce, then make sure to give this recipe a whirl.
Satsivi, though often served hot (especially outside of Georgia) is traditionally meant to be served cold – the world “tsivi” (ცივი) actually means “cold” in Georgia, however, it is just as delicious if you would rather it be a warm or room temperature dish.
Though this dish can seem incredibly decadent and robust, there are only a small handful of ingredients and it is relatively easy and straightforward to make. Much like other Georgian chicken recipes (like chakhokhbili, shkmeruli or chikhirtma), it is the combination of just a few ingredients that work together to make this dish so spectacular.
How to Make Satsivi
First things first, you need to cook your chicken breasts. My preferred method in this is poaching because I think this is the best way to ensure that the chicken remains as tender and moist as possible, which can be difficult in a cut as lean and a boneless skinless chicken breast.
Take your chicken breasts and add them to a large saucepan. Cover them with cold water and a tablespoon of salt and then, uncovered, bring the water to a boil over medium heat.
As soon as the water begins to boil, turn off the heat, flip the chicken breasts over, and cover the pot. Allow the breasts to steep in the hot water until they reach an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F). Remove the breasts from the pot and set aside.
Next, it’s time to get to the satsivi sauce. To begin with, you need to grind your walnuts to a very fine meal. The fastest and easiest way to do this is with a few pulses in the food processor, however, you can get similar results with a mortar and pestle (it is what I do).
If you don’t have either of these, then put your walnuts in a bag and bash them with a mallet, pan or rolling pin until the desired consistency is reached.
The last method is going to be the hardest and I would highly recommend doing it in small batches so that you can get your walnuts fine enough in order to get the best results.
Transfer your ground walnuts to a bowl and grate in some garlic and add some blue fenugreek, cayenne pepper and cinnamon. Stir this to combine and set aside.
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat about a tablespoon of oil until shimmering and add your finely diced onion. Cook this, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly translucent but not browned, about 5 minutes. It might be necessary to turn the heat down if your onion is beginning to brown.
Then, add your walnut, garlic and spices mixture to the skillet and stir until very fragrant, only about 30 seconds to one minute. Then, stream in your chicken stock and stir until everything is combined and homogenous.
Bring the mixture to a simmer and allow to cook until thickened and slightly reduced, about five to ten minutes longer. Make sure to taste to adjust for seasoning.
Cut your chicken breast into a few thick slices and then add them to the sauce, stirring to ensure they’re completely covered. Turn off the heat and allow to cool before transferring to an airtight container and refrigerating until completely chilled, at least four hours.
This is the traditional way of eating chicken satsivi. However, you can also serve this warm immediately after cooking – I promise it will still be absolutely delicious.
This dish can be made up to 3 days in advance so long as it’s kept refrigerated and in an airtight container. If you want to keep with tradition, then you can serve it directly from the fridge, however, it also heats up perfectly well.
Satsivi: Georgian Chicken in Walnut Sauce
Ingredients
- 500 g (1 lb) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 200 g (2 cups) walnut halves
- 4 cloves garlic
- ½ tsp blue fenugreek
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ medium yellow onion finely diced
- 500 ml (2 cups) low sodium chicken stock
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts in a large saucepan. Cover with cool water and sprinkle in 1 tablespoon of salt. Bring to a boil, uncovered, and then turn off the heat, flip chicken breasts over, and cover. Allow breasts to poach until they have an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F), about 10 minutes. Remove from pot and set aside.
- Meanwhile, finely grind walnut halves until they have a consistency of wet sand and transfer to a bowl. Grate in 4 cloves of garlic. Add blue fenugreek, cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, heat one tablespoon of oil until shimmer and add onion. Sautee until softened and lightly translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the walnut mixture and cook until very fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Pour in chicken stock, stir, and bring to a simmer. Simmer until slightly thickened and reduced, another 5-10 minutes.
- Slice chicken breast and add them to the skillet. Cover in the sauce and turn off the heat. Allow to come to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container and refrigerating for at least four hours and preferably overnight. Serve cold.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutritional information is automatically generated and provided as guidance only. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
This Georgian chicken in walnut sauce is one of the most delicious dishes to have come out of this beautiful nation. Refreshingly simple to make but with complex and robust flavours, this recipe is sure to be a hit amongst your family and friends!
Are you hunting for the perfect recipe for chicken satsivi? Have any questions? Let me know in the comments!
