Georgian Chkmeruli — Chicken in Creamy Garlic Sauce

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   How do you make Georgian chkmeruli? Gather all your ingredients. It's best to buy a chilled (not frozen) chicken, since it's hard to judge freshness and quality on a frozen bird. Look for pale pink meat with a neutral smell. The classic recipe calls for cilantro; if you can't find it, parsley works as a substitute.

2. Step 2:

   

   If the chicken is frozen, thaw it ahead of time. Rinse it under running water and remove any innards and leftover feathers. Turn the bird breast-side up and cut it down the center of the breast, leaving the back intact. Pound it lightly with a mallet to flatten the pieces evenly. Then cut through the back to split it into 2 halves, and cut each half into 3–4 pieces. I made my chkmeruli using half a chicken.

3. Step 3:

   

   Pat each piece dry with paper towels so there's less splatter from moisture during frying. Rub salt and spices all over.

4. Step 4:

   

   Brush the chicken with a little vegetable oil and let it marinate for at least 10 minutes.

5. Step 5:

   

   To fry, heat a dry skillet (no oil) over medium to medium-high heat. Lay the chicken pieces in and cook them under a weight for 15 minutes, until golden brown on both sides. For a weight, do what I do and set a suitably sized pot filled with water on top. I usually put a sheet of parchment paper under the pot to keep the bottom clean.

6. Step 6:

   

   While the chicken fries, preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and make the sauce. Peel and rinse the garlic. Strip any tough stems and wilted leaves from the herbs, then rinse and dry them. Finely chop the garlic and cilantro with a knife.

7. Step 7:

   

   In a deep bowl, stir together the cream, garlic, and herbs. You can add a little salt and khmeli-suneli (a Georgian spice blend).

8. Step 8:

   

   Arrange the browned pieces in a deep-sided baking dish. Mine is a ceramic dish about 10 x 8 inches (25 x 20 cm).

9. Step 9:

   

   Pour the sauce over the chicken so the pieces are more than halfway covered. If you're short on sauce, add a little cool boiled water. Bake on the middle rack of the preheated 350°F (180°C) oven for about 35 minutes. Adjust the exact time and temperature to your own oven.