How to cook tkemali sauce from plums for winter

Tkemali is one of the main symbols of Georgian cuisine, revered throughout the world. This sauce is made from sour plums (cherry plum) and mint.

Initially, tkemali was made from the plum variety of the same name, which gave it its name. Prepare the gravy in thick-bottomed pans.

At the end, it is used as a dressing for dishes that need to be given a sour, slightly hot or spicy taste.

What is tkemali made from?

Alycha

Nowadays tkemali is prepared mainly from sour plums and ombalo – spicy, aromatic mint. Thanks to the combination of these products, the dish gets a unique sour-spicy taste and a special smell.

The normal color for tkemali is red. Shades of red ranging from orange to yellow are also considered normal.

Georgian sauce is considered not only a culinary delight, but also a natural source of vitamin C, a means of cleansing the body of toxins and waste.

Cherry plum, common in Georgia, is sold in almost all popular

retail chains and markets.

pennyroyal or ombalo

Ombalo pennyroyal is more difficult to find outside the Caucasus. It can be replaced with other types of mint or similar spices.

However, in modern versions of the gravy, even the key ingredient, cherry plum, is replaced. Most often, its place is taken by currants or gooseberries.

You can season tkemali with different dishes – meat, fish, shish kebab, side dishes, potatoes, meatballs or grilled vegetables.

Tkemali plum sauce classic recipe

Suneli hops

To prepare a classic sauce at home, you only need plums and spices.

This is the base, because each family has its own tkemali. Some people can prepare tkemale sauce with hot pepper, while others cook it with a small amount of garlic.

Ingredients prepared:

• Cherries – 2 kg
• Salt – 1 tbsp. l.
• Sugar – 4 tbsp. l.
• Suneli hops – 1 tsp
• Ground black pepper and coriander – 1 tsp each.
• Dill 1 bunch
• Dried mint – 1 tsp.
• Garlic – 10 cloves

The simplest recipe for tkemali sauce:

1. The fruits are washed, placed in a pan and brought to a boil.
2. After boiling, the plum is cooked for another 10 minutes.
3. The finished pulp is passed through a sieve.
4. The gruel is boiled in a saucepan, sugar and salt are added.
5. Garlic is passed through a press and added to the mixture.
6. Mint is crushed and added to the sauce along with seasonings and pepper.
7. The finished tkemali is poured into vessels.

The most delicious Georgian plum tkemali sauce

And it’s delicious because it’s spicy. Of course, everyone has their own tastiest sauce, so try making it at home.

We will need:

• Cherries – 2 kg.
• Garlic – 10 cloves
• Khmeli-suneli – 1 h. l.
• Hot pepper – 1 pod
• Sugar – 200 g.
• Salt – 1 tbsp. l. 
• Tomato paste – 2 tbsp. l.
• Unscented sunflower oil – 2 tbsp. l.

Tkemali sauce from plums recipe at home:

1. We wash and clean the plums from the beans.
2. Grind the pepper (like it very hot, then leave the seeds) and garlic.
3. Add the remaining ingredients and blend everything into a homogeneous mass.
4. Place on low heat and cook for half an hour; if you need a thicker sauce, cook longer.
5. Classic spicy tkemali plum sauce is ready!

That’s the whole recipe on how to make tkemal sauce from plums. Try it at home and you will fall in love with it! Also read what is tkemali sauce eaten with.