ფხალი

Spinach Pkhali

Vegetarian

Pkhali is a cold vegetable pâté bound with walnut paste. Every Georgian table has it, in green, red and purple: spinach, beet, eggplant or beans. It is vegan and easy, and it gets better the next day.

Spinach Pkhali · Georgian food in Vancouver, Deda
Illustrative photo
Prep
25 min
Cook
10 min
Total
35 min
Serves
6

Ingredients

  • 500 g fresh spinach
  • 120 g walnuts
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 small bunch cilantro
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/2 tsp blue fenugreek (utskho suneli) or regular fenugreek
  • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • Salt and chili to taste
  • Pomegranate seeds to serve

Method

  1. Blanch the spinach in boiling water for 1 minute, cool it in cold water and squeeze it very dry.
  2. Grind the walnuts, garlic, cilantro and spices into a thick paste.
  3. Chop the spinach finely and mix it with the walnut paste, vinegar and salt.
  4. Shape into small balls, press a dip in each and top with pomegranate seeds.
  5. Chill for an hour before serving, with fresh bread.

Tamara's tip: Georgian spices like utskho suneli and khmeli suneli are easy to find at Eastern European groceries in Vancouver and online.

More Georgian recipes