Ajapsandali: The Georgian Dish That Will Have You Begging for Seconds

3 min readFeb 25, 2023

#GeorgianCuisine #Vegetarian

Well, if you haven’t had the pleasure of setting foot in Georgia, then bless your heart, you are missing out on one of the most enchanting places on God’s green earth. The land of the hospitable and headstrong Georgian people is a sight to behold. You can feast your eyes on the grandeur of snow-capped mountains and the gentle beauty of rolling vineyards. The Georgian folks, bless their hearts, are as proud as peacocks and as hospitable as a Southern grandma in church on a Sunday morning.

And when it comes to culture, Lord have mercy, they got it in spades! Georgian music and dance will have you tapping your feet like a woodpecker on a tree trunk, and their art and literature will leave you spellbound like a possum caught in the headlights. But I reckon we need to talk about the food, don’t we?

Now, let me tell you, folks, Georgian cuisine is like a symphony for your taste buds. The blend of flavors and spices is like nothing you have ever tasted before. It’s like a fine-tuned orchestra, each ingredient playing its own melody, but coming together in perfect harmony. And one dish, in particular, that you just can’t miss out on is the mighty Ajapsandali.

This here dish is a true Georgia gem, a veritable treasure trove of flavors and textures. It’s a vegetable stew, made with eggplants, bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes, all cooked up with a generous helping of herbs and spices. The result is a dish that’s so savory, so satisfying, that it’ll make you want to sing like a bird on a spring morning.

Now, I ain’t one to hold out on you, so here’s the recipe, step by step. But let me tell you, making this dish is like conducting a symphony — you gotta get everything just right to make it sing.

Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty: the recipe. Here’s what you’ll need for five servings:

Ingredients:

2 eggplants, chopped into small cubes
2 bell peppers, chopped into small cubes
1 onion, finely chopped
4 medium-sized tomatoes, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup of vegetable oil
1 tsp of ground coriander
1 tsp of ground cumin
1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh herbs for garnish

Instructions:

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté for a couple of minutes until they start to soften.
Add the eggplants and bell peppers and sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the tomatoes, garlic, and spices, and let everything simmer together for another 10–15 minutes until the vegetables are cooked through.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve hot, garnished with fresh herbs.

Brief information about the dish

The legend goes that Ajapsandali was first made by a poor Georgian farmer, who didn’t have much to work with. He gathered the vegetables he had on hand and cooked them up with some spices, and the result was this hearty and delicious stew.

Nowadays, Ajapsandali is a beloved dish all across Georgia, and it’s easy to see why. It’s simple, wholesome, and bursting with flavor. And let me tell you, if you haven’t tried it yet, then you’re missing out on one of the most delectable dishes in all the land. So go ahead, give it a try — your taste buds will thank you for it!

Ajapsandali: The Georgian Dish That Will Have You Begging for Seconds

Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty: the recipe. Here’s what you’ll need for five servings:

Brief information about the dish

Tags:

Written by The Savory Saga