Spinach Pkhali Recipe

Discover the Flavors of Georgia with Spinach Pkhali

On my first trip to Georgia (country), I was pleasantly surprised by how many vegetarian dishes I truly enjoyed. The Georgian food and drink is something that I believe everyone should experience. And it seems I am not the only one to think so given the number of Georgian restaurants from Paris to Portland, Oregon. More and more people are traveling (like me), for food and Georgia is calling!

On our very first day, we were treated to a feast much like the Georgian Supra – a celebration of the culinary delights of this amazing country. As we gear up for our Let’s Eat Georgia tour, I am thrilled to share a delightful recipe that I enjoyed during that first meal.  A Georgian recipe that perfectly captures the essence of Georgian cuisine: Spinach Pkhali. This healthy and delicious dish showcases the ingenious use of walnuts, a staple in Georgian cooking, paired with fresh spinach and aromatic spices. Pkhali, a traditional Georgian appetizer, can be made with various vegetables, but this spinach version is particularly nutritious and bursting with flavor.

Georgia’s culinary landscape is rich and diverse, with walnuts playing a crucial role in many traditional dishes. In Georgian cuisine, walnuts are more than just an ingredient—they are a cornerstone of the country’s culinary identity. Known for their rich, buttery texture and versatile flavor, walnuts are used in a variety of dishes, from savory to sweet. In Spinach Pkhali, ground walnuts create a creamy and flavorful base that complements the fresh spinach and spices perfectly. This harmonious blend of ingredients is what makes Georgian food so unique and memorable.

For more on the wonders of walnuts in Georgian cuisine, check out these insightful articles, The Walnut Whisperers of Georgia.

Join us on the Let’s Eat Georgia tour to experience this and many more delightful dishes firsthand.

Spinach Pkhali Recipe

Spinach Pkhali is a traditional Georgian appetizer made with cooked spinach, ground walnuts, and a blend of aromatic spices. This healthy and flavorful dish is garnished with pomegranate seeds and can be enjoyed as part of a larger feast or as an appetizer plate. It's a wonderful example of the rich and diverse culinary heritage of Georgia, highlighting the ingenious use of walnuts in Georgian cuisine.

Servings 4 Servings

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Equipment

• Large Saucepan, Cutting Board, Knife, Colander, Mixing Bowl, Spoon

Ingredients

• 500 Grams Spinach 17.6 oz
• 150 Grams Walnuts, ground 5.3 oz
• 1/2 Bunch Cilantro
• 2 Cloves Garlic chopped
• 1 Onion chopped
• 1/2 Teaspoon Dried Blue Fenugreek ground
• 1/2 Teaspoon Dried Marigold ground
• 1/2 Teaspoon Dried Coriander Seeds ground
• 1 Teaspoon White Wine Vinegar
• Salt to taste
• Red Hot Chili Pepper Flakes to taste
• Pomegranate Seeds for garnish

Instructions

• Clean and wash the spinach thoroughly. In a large saucepan, bring about 1 liter of water to a boil. Add the spinach and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove the cooked spinach from the saucepan and place it in a colander to drain. Press the spinach with a spoon or your hands to squeeze out all the water.
• On a cutting board, chop the cooked spinach. In a bowl, combine the ground walnuts, chopped onions, and garlic. Add all the spices and vinegar, and mix well. Add the chopped spinach and combine all the ingredients thoroughly.
• Form the mixture into medium-sized balls and garnish with pomegranate seeds.

Notes

Other versions of Pkhali include cabbage, eggplant, beans, and beets. Enjoy this dish as part of a larger feast, paired with fresh Georgian bread or as an appetizer plate accompanied by other varieties of Pkhali, such as beet or carrot. It pairs beautifully with a crisp white wine or herbal tea.

Discover our Let’s Eat The World culinary holiday in Tbilisi and Eastern Georgia, Let’s Eat Georgia.