Nutty Georgian Chicken Satsivi

Aromatic Chicken in Walnut Sauce

Satsivi is a classic Georgian dish featuring tender chicken coated with a rich, nutty walnut sauce infused with fragrant spices.

3 hours
6
Intermediate

Ingredients

For the Chicken

3 pounds whole chicken

1.4 kg, cut into pieces

1 medium onion

sliced

2 bay leaves

Salt

to taste

8 cups water

2 liters

For the Walnut Sauce

3 cups walnuts

300 g, shelled

4 garlic cloves

peeled

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon ground fenugreek

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Salt and black pepper

to taste

For the Sauce Thickener

1/2 cup chicken broth

125 ml, from cooked chicken

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon saffron threads

optional

For Garnish

Fresh cilantro leaves

chopped handful

Pomegranate seeds

handful

Preparation

Boiling the Chicken

Combine Ingredients

In a large pot, place chicken pieces, sliced onion, bay leaves, and salt.

Bring to a Boil

Add water and bring to a boil.

Simmer

Reduce heat and simmer for 60-75 minutes until the chicken is tender.

Be careful not to over-boil chicken as it can become too soft and fall apart.

Preparing the Walnut Mixture

Process Walnuts and Garlic

In a food processor, combine walnuts and garlic cloves; pulse until finely ground.

Mix Spices

In a bowl, mix the ground walnuts with coriander, paprika, fenugreek, cinnamon, salt, and pepper.

For a deeper color in the sauce, add a spoonful of tomato paste to the mixture.

Create Paste

Gradually mix in the reserved chicken broth and red wine vinegar until a smooth paste forms.

Cooking Process

Heat Walnut Sauce

Heat the walnut mixture on low, stirring constantly until it thickens.

Add Chicken

Add the cooked chicken to the walnut sauce, ensuring it is well-coated.

Final Simmer

Let the dish simmer for an additional 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Plating & Serving

Nutty Georgian Chicken Satsivi

FaUtensils

Plating

Arrange the chicken pieces elegantly on a serving platter, fully coated with the rich walnut sauce.

Sauce Pairings

Extra Walnut Sauce

Serve additional walnut sauce on the side for dipping or drizzling.

Garnishes & Accompaniments

Chopped fresh cilantroPomegranate seeds

Perfect Sides

Freshly baked Georgian breads (e.g., lavash)

Lightly salted sliced cucumbers