Shkmeruli: Georgian Chicken in Garlic Milk Sauce
This garlicky, creamy chicken dish originally hails from the village of Shkmeri in the Racha region of northwestern Georgia but can be found on restaurant menus throughout the country. Requiring only a handful of ingredients, this delicious dish is refreshingly simple to make.
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken about 1kg or 2lbs, butterflied
- 10-12 cloves garlic finely minced or grated
- 350 ml (1½ cups) whole milk
- 50 g (4 tbsp) butter divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). Pat your chicken dry with paper towels and season liberally with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Heat one tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium heat in a large, oven-safe skillet until shimmering. Place the chicken breast-side down in the pan and sear chicken without touching until skin is deep brown and crispy, about 8-10 minutes. Flip chicken using tongs and cook the other side for about 5-10 more minutes.
- Remove chicken from pan, transfer to a plate, uncovered to ensure skin remains crispy. Set aside.
- In the same pan, reduce heat to medium-low and 20 grams of butter. Melt until foamy and add the garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, until very fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Switching to a whisk, slowly drizzle in milk while whisking constantly. Once all of the milk is added continue whisking until it reaches a simmer.
- Return chicken to the skillet and move to the oven and finish cooking until done, or when an instant-read thermometer reads 75°C (165°F) when inserted into the thickest part of the breast.
- Remove from oven and take the chicken out the pan and allow to rest while finishing the sauce. Return the skillet to medium-low heat and, whisking constantly, add butter one pat at a time, whisking until one pat is completely incorporated before adding another. The sauce should be glossy and homogenous. Simmer for about 5 minutes further until slightly thickened and reduced.
- In the meantime, transfer the chicken to a cutting board and using a sharp knife, divide into 4-6 pieces. Transfer back into the skillet or into a serving dish and pour sauce over the chicken. Serve immediately, preferably with a side of crusty bread.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 564kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 181mg | Sodium: 249mg | Potassium: 528mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 726IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 149mg | Iron: 2mg
Disclaimer: Nutritional information is automatically generated and provided as guidance only. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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