Darra Goldstein

Darra Goldstein is an author and food scholar. She has published 17 books and is a frequent speaker at organizations and events around the world. Books include "Fire + Ice: Classic Nordic Cooking," "A Taste of Russia," and "The Georgian Feast," among others.

Main Dish

Chicken with Herbs (Chakhokhbili)

The Georgian word for pheasant is khokhobi, and one of the inspired dishes of Georgian cuisine is chakhokhbili. These days chicken, rather than pheasant, constitutes the main ingredient of chakhokhbili, but the manner of preparation has not changed. The fowl is simmered with vegetables and herbs until tender, with no liquid added. Just as Georgian boys were once judged by their skill in cutting mtsvadi sticks, so Georgian girls were deemed marriageable according to their ability to cut up chicken for chakhokhbili. The most traditional recipes call for seventeen precise pieces, although today a mere ten will suffice.

Recipe from: The Georgian Feast

Chicken with Herbs (Chakhokhbili)
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Georgian Chicken With Herbs

Yield 6-8 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • One 3-pound chicken, cut into 10 pieces
  • 4 medium onions, peeled and chopped
  • 8 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
  • Generous ½ cup chopped mixed fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro, tarragon, basil, dill)
  • 1/8 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
  • Salt
  • Freshly ground pepper

Instructions

  1. Melt the butter in a large skillet and brown the chicken pieces on all sides. Stir in the chopped onions and cook for 10 minutes, continuing to stir occasionally.
  2. Add the prepared tomatoes and cook, covered, for 30 minutes, or until the chicken is done.
  3. Stir in the garlic, herbs, hot pepper, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, covered, 5 minutes longer.
  4. Let stand 5 minutes, covered, before serving.

Winter Holiday Pilaf

Uzbeks claim that their national cuisine boasts three hundred different kinds of pilaf, orplov. If so, then I probably won’t live to taste them all—to my regret, since a well-made pilaf is one of the great rice dishes of the world.

But I have feasted on at least one of the best, the fruit­laden pilaf offered here, a gift from Glenn and Asele Mack. Glenn has been studying Central Asian cuisine ever since he met Asele, whose relatives hail from Uzbekistan; he even worked for a time with an Uighur noodle master in Kazakhstan. With its rich assortment of fresh and dried fruits, this pilaf is generally reserved for special occasions. Glenn and Asele were regaled with it in a small Kyrgyz village after a rigorous 15-hour bus ride over the Tian Shan Mountains.

To make this dish accessible to Americans, I’ve taken a few liberties with the ingredients. Normally, scarlet barberries would be used instead of lemon juice to add tartness and color (they’re also prized for their high vitamin content). Uzbek cooks favor yellow carrots, which are somewhat less sweet than the orange. Their local black cumin seed is stronger than ours, and quince are readily available throughout Central Asia. But despite my modifications, this pilaf is a lavish way to regale guests, whether they’ve traveled 15 minutes by highway or 15 hours overland.

From: The Winter Vegetarian 

Vegetarian Pilaf
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Winter Holiday Pilaf

Yield 6 servings

Ingredients

  • ½ cup dried chickpeas
  • 1/4 cup light olive oil
  • 1 small white onion, peeled and thinly sliced
  • ½ pound carrots, peeled and julienned
  • 1 small parsnip, peeled and julienned
  • 1 quince, peeled, cored, and cut into 8 wedges (see Notes)
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ¼ cup raisins
  • ¼ cup dried apricots, halved
  • 2 whole heads of garlic, unpeeled, ½ inch sliced from the tops
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cumin seed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon paprika
  • Pinch of turmeric
  • 1 ¼ cups raw rice
  • ¼ cup finely chopped parsley
  • ¼ cup finely chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)
  • Pomegranate seeds (optional)

Instructions

Step 1

Soak the chickpeas overnight in water to cover. Drain before using.

Heat the oil in a large wok. Add the onion and fry over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the carrots and parsnip and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes more, until the vegetables are lightly browned. Place the quince, the drained chickpeas, 1 ½ cups of the vegetable broth, the lemon juice, raisins, and apricots on top of the vegetables. Submerge the heads of garlic in the broth in the center of the wok.

Step 2

Bring the mixture to a boil, then stir in the cumin seed, ground cumin, salt, pepper, paprika, and turmeric. Pour the rice over the broth, then add the remaining 1 ½ cups broth. Cover the wok and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Remove the cover and stir the rice to coat each grain with broth, taking care not to disturb the fruits and vegetables at the bottom. Replace the cover and cook 10 minutes more. Then, with a chopstick make several holes in the rice to the bottom of the wok. Continue to cook the rice, covered, until it is tender and the liquid has been absorbed, 10 to 15 minutes longer.

Step 3

Remove the garlic and set aside. Stir the pilaf gently to avoid mashing the quince. Transfer to a large platter and scatter the minced parsley, fresh coriander, and pomegranate seeds over the rice. Display the heads of garlic prominently on top and serve.

Notes

I have had success substituting a large Asian pear for the quince. Peel, core, and slice it into eight wedges. If neither quince nor Asian pears is available, try using a large, tart apple.

Pomegranate seeds freeze well. When the fruits are in season in the autumn, save the seeds, wrap them airtight, and store in the freezer for up to 6 months.

The traditional accompaniment to this pilaf is a plate of scallions and shredded radishes. I also like to serve flatbread on the side.

Vegetarian Black Bean Chili

Chili doesn’t get much better than this spicy version with black beans. Cooked with tomatoes, the beans take on a beautiful mahogany color. Serve the chili plain or over boiled rice, and sprinkle with grated cheese if you like.

Recipe from: The Winter Vegetarian 

Black Bean Chili
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Vegetarian Black Bean Chili

Yield 6-8 Servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dried black beans
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 medium onions, peeled and chopped
  • 4 large garlic cloves, peeled and minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
  • One 28-oz. can tomatoes, coarsely chopped, including the juice
  • 2 tbsp. tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp. ground cumin
  • 2 tsp. paprika
  • 1/2 tsp. cayenne
  • 4 tsp. chili powder
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1-1/2 tsp. salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp. dark brown sugar
  • Grated Monterey Jack cheese (optional)

Instructions

Step 1

Soak the beans in water to cover overnight. The next day, drain them and place in a large stockpot with the 4 cups of water. Add the bay leaf and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, until the beans are tender but still slightly chewy.

Step 2

While the beans are simmering, slowly cook the onions, garlic, and red pepper in the oil for 12 to 15 minutes. Stir into the bean pot. Add the remaining ingredients, except for the grated cheese, and simmer, covered for 1 hour. Serve hot, sprinkled with cheese, if desired.