Phali with Beans, Nuts, and Herbs

Directions

1. 1

   Step 1

   

   Wash and peel the garlic. Rinse the cilantro and walnuts under running water.

2. 2

   Step 2

   

   Place the string beans in a pot of boiling water. Cook for 10 minutes over medium heat.

   TipThere's no need to thaw the beans in advance. If you have fresh beans, they should be rinsed under running water before cooking.

3. 3

   Step 3

   

   Drain the beans in a colander. Let the beans cool. Transfer them to a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl.

   TipYou can even squeeze the beans slightly to remove excess moisture so the phali consistency isn't watery.

4. 4

   Step 4

   

   Finely chop the cilantro. Press the garlic through a press. Break the bread into pieces.

5. 5

   Step 5

   

   Place the cilantro, garlic, walnuts, bread, adjika, khmeli-suneli, salt, and pepper in the blender bowl. Blend everything thoroughly until smooth.

6. 6

   Step 6

   

   Combine the beans and the blended herb mixture with bread and spices in one bowl.

7. 7

   Step 7

   

   Knead the resulting mixture thoroughly by hand. It should become smooth and firm.

   TipKneading by hand is not mandatory, but it's customary in authentic Georgian recipes. You can simply mix the mixture well with a regular spoon.

8. 8

   Step 8

   

   Form small balls from this mixture and place them on a plate.

   TipThe shape of the phali can be any. Shape the bean mixture into a patty and cut into squares. You can also slightly flatten each phali ball, making them into elongated boat or oval shapes.

9. 9

   Step 9

   

   Serve the bean phali, garnished with almonds.

   TipPhali is also garnished with pomegranate seeds.