Colorful Georgia and Chebureks Recipe

Cute remnants of antiquity

The color of Tbilisi has many components. These are cypress candles, hills and mountains, ancient temples, monumental buildings and, of course, the habits and customs of the inhabitants.

For example, here at the entrance to the bazaar there is an old woman who screams, advertising her product: “Naphthalene! Mothballs! ”And the smell from her! Like from a grandmother's wardrobe. I don’t know about you, but I thought that naphthalene is a relic of antiquity.

Near the train station in Tbilisi, I saw a worker in the profession, which I associate with the film “The Elusive Avengers”. The seat next to this man, in my opinion, in the cinema was the place for the revolutionaries to appear and transmit information. Do not remember?

But I won’t pull anymore - this is a shoe cleaner! And all his devices: brushes, a suitcase, jars of cream - just a greeting from the past. For Georgians, its presence is a common occurrence, and I was so surprised that I could not resist and took a picture. Where do you see this now?

And one more sketch. In the mornings, sellers with shoulder bags or trolleys filled with various goods go to the old parts of the capital. And they revive the yards with their cry: “Tsotskhi!” Tsotskhi! ”- (“ Brooms! ”) Or, in Russian, lingeringly:“ Potatoes ... potatoes ... Potatoesaaaaa! ”

About the Gurians

Earlier, I mentioned that Georgians are divided into ethnic groups. Today I will tell you about the Gurians. They live in a remote corner of Western Georgia. They say that Guria is incredibly beautiful, but, unfortunately, I can’t share my impressions yet - I have not yet reached this part of the country. But I know something about the inhabitants and I hasten to share.

The Gurian wives are so assertive, energetic and strong in character that there is even a saying that their husbands require additional payments ... for harm.

And the Gurians are famous for their singing. Krimanchuli - this is the name of their national song. Literally translated as a writhing voice. World-wide polyphonic singing of Georgians is known. So the Gurian song differs in that the top voice in the overall work is rich in melodic leaps and decorations. It can be said a business card. There is a local joke about this. Once Khrushchev decided to surprise krimanchuli. The Secretary General, after listening, shared his impressions: “They sang well, well done! Only one rested the rest all the time. ” Yes, not everyone will not immediately understand all the virtuosity, skill and difficulty of performing a drip Gurian song.

About sensitivity

Georgians are sensitive, emotional, direct. Even the most proud, severe and temperamental men have wet eyes from old black-and-white films, examples of compatriot heroism, patriotic songs or babble babble.

They can sincerely, childishly noisy rejoice at your good news. For example, in a hairdressing salon noticed my emerging pregnancy. I didn’t know where to go. Honestly. Women jumped around me, laughed, joked and congratulated. I note that I was in this salon for the third time. At first I thought that it was a single and somewhere even slightly vulgar gesture on their part. Mistake All more or less familiar people do not pass by my interesting position calmly. They cross, smile, wonder, congratulate, and even raise toasts at the table! Incredible sense of ownership. And one more thing - for some reason, instead of the word “belly” or “tummy,” they so affectionately say: “And your belly is coming to you!” I don’t even have any comments.

About trade and services

The markets here are a work of art. Southern flavor is felt in everything. Jokes, loud roll calls of merchants, it is not clear where the flowing national music comes from.

What is the choice? Fresh meat, chickens, own cheeses, dairy products, mushrooms, nuts, dried fruits - all year round. An incredible assortment of fruits and vegetables.

It should be noted that Georgians prefer local products. For example, it is not accepted in January to eat tomatoes and cucumbers, in April - tangerines or watermelons. Although on sale they, of course, are. By the way, one day in early May at the market I asked where the strawberries came from. The seller could not name the country. It seems that he himself did not believe that he would sell it. Only this can explain his sluggish interest in the unfortunate imported berry. Georgians are waiting for their harvest. And do not lose. The taste of fruit in Georgia is incredible.

They don’t like frozen meat brought here, they say that kebab from it is not good. And all this abundance on the market is seasoned with the smell of fresh herbs and intoxicating spices. It’s unrealistic to hold on. You’ll buy something anyway.

It is noteworthy that there are no price tags on goods. Trade! Who will win. So for me, Imereti cheese (150 rubles per kg) sharply rises in price by thirty. In response to my indignation, they reproach me: “It is expensive for those who have no money!” It's funny, right? This can offend only a Georgian. And a Russian person with a certain income, stability, does it hurt? I just want a different price and that’s it.

Surprisingly, they do not like to bargain with them. They make strict or indifferent faces, shrug their shoulders and defiantly turn away.

This is also the case with tourist services. No one will go on an excursion if visitors are asked to reduce the price of 500-1000 rubles. And they will be waiting all day. They will not earn a penny. But they will not do unnecessary movements. Save energy? I do not understand. A proverb comes to my mind: “You can’t put a ruble under a seated ass.” But not for me to teach them.

Azerbaijanis in Georgia

Georgia is a multinational country. Azerbaijanis make up the largest foreign dynasty: more than six percent of the country's population and they have been living in this territory since the 4th century. There are entire settlements of Azerbaijanis, they have their own schools, customs and holidays. I must say that against the background of Georgians, they are a very hardworking people. Just bees. I suspect that all the greens that are in Tbilisi all year round are supplied by local Azerbaijanis.

At the end of April, we traveled to Marneuli, a small town and nearby villages, where the number of Azerbaijanis is more than eighty percent. It’s like I’ve been to another country! Not a single loafer, backgammon player or just a vacationer. All at work. The fields have been cleaned to indecentness, the potato beds resemble the ranks of soldiers on the parade ground, the tops are already above the knee.

Only women are weeding; men are engaged in the construction, expansion, and improvement of farm buildings. And their houses resemble solid stone princely estates, with spiral external staircases, rich decoration of patterns by balconies and arches. Impressive!

Kill the dragon

The atmosphere of intoxicating relaxation is amazing. It is ubiquitous. And as a result - behavioral features. Georgians are not punctual. Absolutely. If the meeting is scheduled for ten, then it will take place only at 10.40. No calls or apologies for being late. And no one is offended by anyone. If the time is set in the hairdressing salon - be sure that the master will be half an hour late.

Georgians are very easy on raising children. They adore them. Pamper. And sometimes they harvest the wrong crop for which they were counting. But attitudes towards the formation of a small personality do not change. There is no goal to grow a competitive person, the priority is a quiet life, and not all kinds of careers there, conquering the peaks and the realization of ambitions. Wonderful! We are used to something else. I, for example, come from the world where people have been accumulating pensions since they were twenty, where there is always a strict selection of personnel and where people are resources.

Arriving from Russia and falling out of a tough work schedule, I daily scrubbed the apartment, cleaned tiles with frenzy, rubbed plates eagerly, and rubbed table silver with rapture. She did everything as her mother taught. I fell into a trance when guests stomped on wet still parquet in street shoes. Well, it’s not customary to take off their shoes!

With a vengeance, I plunged into the cookery, prepared Georgian and Russian dishes; experiments and failures only spurred me! Add to this the daily washing, ironing and maintaining order by barking at home. I was tired for the day as if I were unloading the cars. And although she looked like a girl from a pin-up style, she was actually a grouchy aunt. At home they did not understand me, but did not contact me - they did not want to scandal.

Six months have passed. Indeed, a person gets used to everything. And Russian especially adapts well. Now everything suits me, I wake up late and am loyal to the dust on the piano. Just a husband who can’t stand the noise in the house once said: “Well, we somehow lived without you and without wet floors ...” The blonde stiffened, thought and concluded: happiness and harmony, it seems, are not in this. And I strangled the dragon inside me. Ceased to terrorize the family. Believe me, life has become easier. The only secret: a little shared responsibilities. In case of the absence of ironed shirts, she learned to masterfully splash eyelashes. In addition, she stopped twitching if there was no roast for dinner. (Let the husband not read these lines!) There are always sausages, khinkali, pasties and khachapuri. They smell of any nook and cranny. By the way, today I am publishing a recipe for just crazy chebureks from my Tbilisi friend.

Chebureks from Alena Vatiashvili

Cheburek is a traditional dish of many Turkic and Mongolian peoples. It is also popular in the Caucasus. Today we will bake chebureks as they are customary to cook in Tbilisi.

We will need for the test:

• 1 kg of flour;
• 0.5 l of water;
• 1 egg
• 0.5 tbsp. l salt.

For filling:

• 300 g of veal or young beef;
• 300 g of pork;
• 3 onions;
• 3-4 branches of greens (parsley, cilantro, oregano);
• salt pepper.

Knead the steep dough, like dumplings, wrap in cling film or bag and leave in a cool place for 4-5 hours.

Scroll the meat with the addition of greens, salt, pepper, mix well. Add a little warm water so that the stuffing is not thick, but has the consistency of liquid sour cream.

Now back to the test. Roll out a layer 2 cm thick and squeeze out a glass with circles with a diameter of 5 cm.

Roll out a 3 mm thick circle.

Put half the minced meat on one half.

We fix the edges.

Press them with a fork so that they do not stick out.

In a deep frying pan, heat the sunflower oil and fry the pasties until golden, about 7 minutes each side.

We spread it on a plate and eat hot, praising ourselves, with pleasure!

- Gemrielad is mivert! - Enjoy your meal!