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Kharcho – Georgian Beef Soup with Walnuts and Rice

Ingredients:

Beef brisket

800 Grams

cut into pieces

Water

2.5 Liters

Rice

100 Grams

rinsed

Onions

finely chopped

Garlic cloves

crushed

Tkemali sauce

100 Milliliters

or 2 tbsp tomato paste plus 1 tbsp lemon juice

Walnuts

100 Grams

ground

Khmeli suneli

1 Teaspoons

Utskho suneli (blue fenugreek)

1 Teaspoons

Ground coriander

1 Teaspoons

Hot chili pepper

Bay leaves

Fresh cilantro and parsley

bunch each, chopped

Salt

to taste

Preparation mode:

👉 Kharcho is a thick, warming Georgian beef soup with rice, ground walnuts, sour tkemali and plenty of spices. It is one of the most famous Georgian soups – hearty, aromatic and perfect for cold days.

🇬🇪 What Is Kharcho?

Kharcho (ხარჩო) originally comes from Samegrelo, where it was made with beef and a walnut sauce. Today, the version with rice and tomato or tkemali is popular across Georgia and the former Soviet countries. The combination of walnuts and sour plum is what makes it unique.

🍳 How to Make Kharcho

1. Cook the beef. Put the beef in a pot with the water and bay leaves, bring to the boil, skim the foam and simmer for 1½–2 hours until tender

2. Add the rice. Add the rice and cook for 10 minutes

3. Fry the onions. Meanwhile, fry the onions in a little fat from the broth until soft and golden, then add them to the soup

4. Add the flavors. Stir in the tkemali (or tomato paste), ground walnuts, khmeli suneli, blue fenugreek, coriander and chili. Simmer for 10 minutes

5. Finish. Add the garlic and herbs, season with salt and turn off the heat. Rest for 10 minutes before serving

😋 Why You’ll Love Kharcho

It is rich, slightly sour, nutty and spicy – a soup that is filling enough to be a whole meal.

💡 Tips for the Best Kharcho

Brisket or shin gives the best broth.
Add the walnuts gradually – they thicken the soup.
Adjust the sourness with more tkemali or lemon.
Kharcho tastes even better the next day.

🍽️ How to Serve Kharcho

Serve hot with fresh bread and extra herbs. Keeps in the fridge for 3 days.

❓ Kharcho FAQ

Is kharcho spicy?
It is medium-spicy; adjust the chili to taste.

Can I make kharcho with chicken?
Yes – chicken kharcho is a lighter variation.

👉 Learn more about Georgian cuisine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_cuisine

More Georgian recipes on my website:
👉 https://cuisinesguide.com/recipe-cuisine/georgian-cuisine/
👉 Khachapuri (Georgian Cheese Bread)
👉 Chicken Shkmeruli – Georgian Garlic Chicken

Footnotes:

Photo: Kharcho meat soup by A.Savin, Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and color-adjusted by Cuisines Guide.