Spiced kidney bean stew with walnut, coriander and pomegranate — Georgia's national bean dish, served with cornbread.
Lobio (literally 'beans') is the Georgian bean dish, served at every meal in countless variations. The classic Tbilisi version simmers red kidney beans into a thick stew flavoured with walnut paste, coriander, blue fenugreek and pomegranate. It's traditionally served in a small clay pot with a wedge of mchadi (cornbread) and a dish of pickled vegetables alongside.
Serves 4
Drain soaked beans. Place in pot with 1.2L fresh water. Bring to boil, skim foam, simmer 60–75 min until tender.
While beans cook, fry onion in oil until golden. Add garlic and stir 1 minute.
When beans are tender, drain (reserve cooking liquid). Mash about a third of the beans with a fork — this thickens the stew.
Add beans (mashed and whole) to onions. Add 400ml reserved bean liquid, walnuts, all spices, salt and chopped coriander.
Cook 15 min — flavours will meld and stew will thicken.
Stir in vinegar and pomegranate molasses. Adjust salt.
Pour into bowls. Top with pomegranate seeds and extra coriander. Serve with cornbread (mchadi) or crusty bread.
Mashing some of the beans is the trick to authentic texture — never blend smooth.
Pomegranate molasses can be replaced with 1 tbsp vinegar + 1 tbsp date syrup.
Lobio with kindzmari (purple basil sauce) on the side
Use canned beans for a 30-minute version — start at step 2 with 2 cans rinsed beans + 300ml water
Mtsvane lobio — green beans in walnut paste, summer version
Refrigerate 5 days. Improves dramatically overnight.
Beans came to Georgia from the Americas via Ottoman trade routes in the 17th century and were quickly adopted into local cuisine. Lobio became particularly associated with Lent fasts and with the working-class taverns of Tbilisi, where it is still served from clay pots.
Dried gives better texture and flavour. Canned works for a quick version — drain and use only the canning liquid that's clear, not slimy.
Georgian flat cornbread — coarse cornmeal mixed with water, salt, fried in a pan. Almost mandatory accompaniment.
Per serving · 4 servings total
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