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One of the most common dishes in Georgia that you will find across the country is ojakhuri. This hearty meal is a mainstay in this South Caucasus nation and you will be hard-pressed to find a traditional restaurant menu without its inclusion. However, if you’re looking to recreate this at home, it can be really difficult to find a detailed, written ojakhuri recipe. This is where I come in!
Ther reason that ojakhuri recipes are so few and far between is to do with the fact of what ojakhuri fundamentally is, a family meal. Meaning that each family has their own rendition of it and has likely not even bothered to properly write down.
Because ojakhuri can vary so drastically from home to home, however, means that I was able to develop a pretty killer mushroom ojakhuri recipe that is super flavourful, very hearty and also completely vegan and it makes for a great comfort food whenever you fancy.
My ojakhuri recipe is also incredibly easy to throw together (it uses one bowl for mixing and one baking dish so you don’t have to do too many dishes!) and it is absolutely delicious. So if you’re on the hunt with one fo Georgia’s most popular dishes, then make sure to check out this recipe!
What is Ojakhuri?
Before I jump into my recipe, we need to discuss exactly what ojakhuri is. Ojakhuri simply means “family meal” in Georgian (the word for family is ojakhi – ოჯახი) and it’s a hearty dish that can hold it’s own. On ordinary days, ojakhuri is typically made with pork and potatoes along with onions, peppers and sometimes other add-ins. Other kinds of meat like chicken can be subbed in, as well.
Mushroom ojakhuri is common to eat on fasting days, of which there are plenty on the Georgian Orthodox calendar. I’ve said it before and I’ve said it again, Georgian cuisine is one of the best for vegetarians because there are so many meat-free options ranging from badrijani nigvzit to mushroom chashushuli, being vegetarian or vegan in Georgia is neither difficult nor bland!
This mushroom ojakhuri recipe combines mushrooms (obviously) with potatoes, onions and peppers to make for wholesome, comforting and vegan-friendly meal that uses a bunch of classic Georgian flavours in an easy-to-prepare method.
Mushroom Ojakhuri Recipe
This mushroom ojakhuri recipe really couldn’t be easier and it will take a total of about five minutes to throw together and then you can just toss it in the oven and eat about 45 minutes later.
To start out with, preheat your oven to 220° or 425°F. In a large bowl, mix 60 millilitres (about a quarter cup) of sunflower oil with two tablespoons of adjika paste.
If you’re interested in making a lot of Georgian food, then this is something that I definitely recommend sourcing online or from a speciality shop or making it yourself at home. However, you can substitute with a half a teaspoon of salt, a quarter teaspoon of crushed chilli flakes and a quarter teaspoon of ground coriander seeds. Whisk the adjika (or chilli-coriander mixture) and oil together.
Now, you need to stem and quarter a kilo (about two pounds) of button mushrooms. You really can use any kind of mushrooms in this recipe, however, simple button mushrooms are the most common in Georgia and also happen to be the cheapest in most areas of the world! Add your quartered mushrooms to the bowl with the adjika.
Next, cut about a kilo of potatoes into 2-centimetre cubes. Try to keep the potatoes around the same size so that they cook evenly. Again, you really can use whatever kind of potatoes you want and think are tasty. Yukon Golds work particularly well because they have a lovely texture. Plain russets work well, too. Toss the potatoes in the bowl with the mushrooms.
Now, thinly slice a red onion from pole to pole. I find it easier to remove the root from the onion to allow for the layers to separate more readily. I say to use a red onion because they are sweeter and, therefore, caramelise more easily adding a delicious flavour to your finished ojakhuri. Add the onions to the bowl.
And finally, thinly slice two red peppers and add them to the bowl with the mushrooms, potatoes and onion. Using a large spoon (or your hands!) toss all of these to completely coat in the adjika and oil. Transfer all of this to a large baking dish (a 33cm x 23cm or 13in x 9in pan works great) and cover tightly with aluminium foil.
Transfer the pan to the oven and roast for thirty minutes before removing the foil and roasting for a further 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and everything is lightly browned and caramalized.
Allow your ojakhuri to cool slightly for about five before serving. And all there is left is to dig in and enjoy!
Mushroom Ojakhuri: Georgian Family Meal
Yield: 4-6 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
This Georgian dish simply means "family meal" and it is incredibly hearty and comforting. Super easy to throw together, this is sure to quickly become one of your favourites.
Ingredients
- 60ml (1/4 cup) sunflower oil
- 2 tablespoons adjika*
- 1kg (2 pounds) button mushrooms, stems removed and cut into quarters
- 1kg (2 pounds) potatoes, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 1 medium red onion, sliced thin
- 2 red bell peppers, sliced thin
- 4-5 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 220°C (425°F). In a large bowl, whisk together adjika and oil.
- Add mushrooms, potatoes, onion, pepper and garlic to bowl with adjika and oil. Toss to coat in the mixture then transfer to a large baking dish.
- Cover the dish tightly with aluminium foil and place in the oven. Cook for 30 minutes then remove the foil and cook for a further 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender, the mushrooms are browned and the onions have lightly caramelized. Serve immediately.
Notes
*If you can't find adjika, substitute the chili paste for 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon of chili flakes, 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander seeds and a few generous grinds of black pepper. You won't get quite the same flavour, but it will still be very good.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 365Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 32mgCarbohydrates: 74gFiber: 12gSugar: 12gProtein: 13g
Nutritional information is automatically generated and provided as guidance only. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
As you can see, making a killer mushroom ojakhuri recipe isn’t a difficult task in the slightest and the results are super delicious! I hope that you are able to make this dish and recreate one of Georgia’s favourite family meals in your own kitchen.
Are you looking for the perfect ojakhuri recipe? Have any questions? Let me know in the comments!
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