Name: Georgian Lamb Stew: Chanakhi Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 2 h 50 min
Total time: 3 h 20 min
Cuisine: Georgian
Ingredients: 2 pounds of boneless lamb shoulder cut into 1-inch pieces (lamb leg will work, too); 2 medium eggplants or 4 small (about 2 pounds); 2 tablespoons of high smoke point cooking oil such as canola or light olive oil.; Kosher salt; Freshly ground black pepper; 3 large yellow onions, peeled, halved and sliced; 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch pieces; 5 large garlic cloves, peeled and chopped; 1 tablespoon dried basil; 1 28 ounce can of imported plum tomatoes and their juice, tomatoes torn or roughly chopped; 1 pound of small yellow flesh potatoes, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds (cut the potatoes just before adding them to the pot or, if you cut them ahead of time, keep them immersed in a bowl of water to prevent discoloration.); 1 large bunch of fresh parsley, thick stems removed, roughly chopped (Set 1 or 2 tablespoons aside for garnishing the stew); 1 large bunch of fresh cilantro, thick stems removed, roughly chopped; 1 pound of small fresh ripe tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch rounds.; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Jump to Recipe

This enchanting lamb stew called chanakhi from the country of Georgia is assembled in layers, with lamb at the bottom, vegetables and herbs piled on top, filling the pot to its brim. A magical transformation occurs in the oven, bringing all the flavors together with meltingly tender lamb and rich flavorful sauce. A delicious comforting dinner for a cold winter night.

Georgian lamb stew called chanakhi, with potatoes in an aqua bowl on a striped dish cloth with 5 forks in the background

Georgian cuisine is so my kind of food! khachapuri (cheese-stuffed bread), stuffed vegetable dishes, inventive lamb stews, the abundant use of vinegar, garlic, spices and fresh herbs. The only time I had the pleasure of eating authentic Georgian food was many years ago when I took the train from Manhattan to Brighton Beach Brooklyn with two friends to have lunch at Tone Cafe, one of the legendary Georgian restaurants in that neighborhood.

I’ll never forget that lunch, especially the Adjarian khachapuri: freshly baked bread, shaped like a boat, filled with two cheeses and brought to the table piping hot. The server added a hunk of butter and two eggs to the melted cheese and whisked them in, while we sat drooling in anticipation. To eat this incredible creation, we pulled off hunks of warm bread from the edges of the “boat” and dipped them into the melted cheesy, buttery center!!! I’ve asked my blog bread baker (My husband Eddie) to get going on a khachapuri recipe for the blog. Stay tuned for that but in the meantime, Chanakhi!

What is Chanakhi and how is it cooked?

Authentic Georgian Chanakhi is a lamb stew with vegetables and herbs that's traditionally cooked in small clay pots called chanakhi, which is how the dish got its name. Each pot contains one portion. The stew is assembled in layers with cubes of meat, usually raw, at the bottom of the pot. The middle layer is eggplant that's been stuffed with lamb fat, garlic and herbs. The top layer is tomatoes and potatoes. The pots are covered and transferred to the oven to bake.

showing how to cut an eggplant for Georgian lamb stew. one photo show an eggplant sliced into wedges, the next photo show the salted wedges in a metal colander.

Ingredients and Adaptations for this Georgian Lamb Stew

According to food historian Copeland Marks, in whose cookbook I first discovered this Georgian dish, a chanakhi can have many variations but it always has lamb and eggplant along with other vegetables. It always has abundant fresh herbs, and it is traditionally prepared and served in a covered clay pot.

I have largely stuck to the traditional Chanakhi ingredients and technique for this recipe, with a few tweaks.

I've chosen to use a large Dutch oven as a cooking vessel rather than individual clay pots, which many home cooks don't have. I want to be sure as many people as possible get to try this incredible Georgian dish!
While many Chanahki recipes use only fresh tomatoes, I've opted for a layer of canned plum tomatoes because they are reliably ripe and juicy, even in the winter.
Rather than stuffing eggplant with herbs and fat, my adaptation uses uses sliced eggplant and layers it with chopped fresh herbs - a simpler technique that, according my research, is how most Georgian home cooks make it these days.

How to make Chanakhi: Georgian Lamb Stew

Two pots are needed for this recipe, a skillet for browning the lamb and sautéing the aromatic vegetables, and a a heavy stew pot or Dutch oven for assembling the lamb stew and braising it in the oven.

The ingredients are sautéed in the order that they're layered into the pot. First the lamb, then the onions, followed by the peppers and garlic.
The rest of the ingredients are layered on top, one at a time: dried spices, canned tomatoes, half the eggplant and potatoes, half the fresh herbs, the rest of the eggplant, potatoes and herbs.
Sliced fresh tomatoes are added to the very top, the pot is covered and it goes into the oven for a long slow braise.

Dutch oven with browned cubes of lamb in the bottom, and then the same Dutch oven with sautéed onions added on top of the lamb

Dutch oven showing the spices layer of Georgian lamb stew. Then another shot showing the canned plum tomato layer on top of the spices layer

oval Dutch oven showing the eggplant and potatoes layer for Georgian lamb stew. The second photo shows the herb layer on top of the previous layer

The before and after photos say it all. Lots of magic happens in the oven.

an oval dutch oven filled with Georgian lamb stew (chanakhi) before and after it cooks, showing raw potatoes, eggplant herbs and tomatoes in the first shot and a fully cooked stew in the second photo.

Serving and Storing Chanakhi

To Serve: Ladle Chanakhi into bowls and serve hot, with a sprinkling of fresh herbs on top and crusty bread on the side. Nothing more is needed for a complete and satisfying meal. However, if you enjoy a salad with your stew, this butter lettuce salad with citrusy dressing always makes a lovely side dish for a warm comforting stew.

Make this ahead: This lamb stew can be prepared a day ahead, kept covered in the fridge, and reheated at a low simmer or in a 300ºF oven. Like many stews, it's even better the next day, after the flavors have had time to meld.

Other hearty stew recipes to try:
West African Peanut Stew with Chicken and Sweet Potatoes
Slow Cooker Brazilian Feijoada
Guatemalan Green Chicken Stew
Julia Child's Beef Bourguignon, Made Easier

Georgian lamb stew with potatoes in an aqua bowl on a striped dish cloth with 5 forks in the background

Here's the Georgian lamb stew recipe. If you try this I hope you'll come back to leave a star rating and a comment. I'd love to know what you think!

Recipe