Welcome to a taste of Georgia! This recipe for Georgian-Style Green Beans is a beautiful introduction to the country's rich and flavorful cuisine. Known for its generous use of walnuts, fresh herbs, and aromatic spices, Georgian food is both comforting and exciting. This dish, centered around a creamy and nutty sauce called 'bazhe,' transforms simple green beans into an elegant and satisfying meal. It's naturally vegan, incredibly easy to make, and perfect as a vibrant side dish or a light main course. Let's dive into the simple steps to create this culinary gem!
Georgian-Style Green Beans
Ingredients for Georgian-Style Green Beans:
- 400 g green beans
- 50 g red bell pepper
- 80 g leek
- 65 g shelled walnuts
- 1/2 lemon
- 3 cloves garlic
- 120 ml boiled water
- 5 g sea salt
- olive oil, spices to taste
How to Make Georgian-Style Green Beans
Pour 2 tablespoons of quality olive oil into a frying pan, then add the sliced leek. Note that there can be sand between the leek leaves, so be sure to rinse the greens thoroughly under running water!
Placing sliced leeks into a frying pan
Clean the sweet bell pepper by removing the seeds, rinse it under the tap, and chop the flesh into small cubes. Add the chopped pepper to the leek.
Adding chopped sweet pepper
Next, add the green beans to the pan. I used frozen vegetables for this dish. If you’re using fresh beans, you’ll need to prepare them first – trim the ends, remove the tough string, and cut them into pieces.
Cook the vegetables over medium heat for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the green beans to the pan and sauté the vegetables for 10-12 minutes
While the vegetables are cooking, let’s make the traditional Georgian sauce – bazhe (a classic Georgian walnut sauce). There are many ways to prepare it – with broth, pomegranate, wine vinegar, or cilantro. Since our recipe is vegetarian, we’ll make the bazhe with water.
Soak the shelled walnuts in cold water for a few minutes, then rinse and dry them in a hot pan.
Boil some water and let it cool to room temperature.
Peel the garlic cloves.
Preparing ingredients for the bazhe sauce
Grind the garlic and walnuts with salt in a mortar and pestle, then transfer the mixture to a blender and add the cooled water. Squeeze the juice from half a lemon.
Grind the walnuts and garlic. Add water and lemon juice
Blend the ingredients until you get a smooth, light-colored paste. This is your “bazhe”. Taste it; if needed, add a little more salt. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit more water and blend again.
Blend the ingredients until a smooth, light paste is formed
Spread the sauce on a plate. By the way, if you’re a fan of Georgian spices, a small pinch of utskho suneli (a Georgian spice also known as blue fenugreek) would be perfect here.
Spreading the bazhe walnut-garlic sauce on a plate
Place the warm vegetables on top of the sauce and serve immediately.
Placing the warm vegetables on top of the sauce
And there you have it—a delightful plate of Georgian-Style Green Beans, rich with the creamy, nutty flavor of the bazhe sauce. This dish is traditionally served as an appetizer or a side, pairing wonderfully with grilled meats or fresh bread like shotis puri to scoop up every last bit of the delicious sauce. Don't hesitate to make a larger batch of the bazhe; it's a versatile sauce that's also fantastic with chicken, fish, or other roasted vegetables. We hope this recipe inspires you to explore more of the unique and soulful flavors of Georgian cuisine. Enjoy your meal, or as they say in Georgia, 'Gemrielad miirtvit!'
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