Tkemali – Georgian Sour Plum Sauce

Ingredients:

Preparation mode:

👉 Tkemali is Georgia’s famous sour plum sauce – tangy, garlicky and herby. It is served with grilled meat, potatoes and chicken, much like ketchup elsewhere, and is made in every Georgian home in summer.

🇬🇪 What Is Tkemali?

Tkemali (ტყემალი) is named after the sour cherry-plum it is made from. Green tkemali uses unripe plums in spring; red tkemali uses ripe plums in summer. The secret herb is ombalo (pennyroyal), which gives the sauce its unique minty aroma.

🍳 How to Make Tkemali

1. Cook the plums. Put the plums and water in a pot, bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes until soft

2. Sieve. Push the plums through a sieve to remove the skins and stones

3. Make the herb paste. Blend the garlic, dill, cilantro, chili and salt into a paste

4. Simmer. Return the plum purée to the pot, add the herb paste, ombalo and ground coriander and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring often. Taste and add sugar only if needed

5. Store. Pour into sterilized bottles or jars while hot and seal

😋 Why You’ll Love Tkemali

It is the most versatile Georgian condiment – bright, sour and spicy – and it lifts any grilled dish.

💡 Tips for the Best Tkemali

• Use the sourest plums you can find.
• Add the herbs at the end to keep them fresh.
• Mint can replace pennyroyal.
• Keep in sterilized bottles for months.

🍽️ How to Serve Tkemali

Serve with mtsvadi, fried potatoes, chicken tabaka or fish. Store opened bottles in the fridge for up to a month.

❓ Tkemali FAQ

What is the difference between green and red tkemali?
Green is made from unripe plums and is more sour; red is made from ripe plums and is slightly sweeter.

What is ombalo?
A Georgian name for pennyroyal, a wild mint.

👉 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: Tqemali of Georgian Cuisine by A.Savin, Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and color-adjusted by Cuisines Guide.