Georgian dessert based on walnuts
When I was a kid, some 40 years ago, I visited the country of Georgia and had a dessert I still (vaguely) remember but could never find a note on.
It was based on a whole unripe walnut (I think it was a walnut - it could have been a large nut) that was in some kind of syrup (or at last fluid). I do not remember the taste but the texture was crunchy.
Does that ring a bell?
I searched for Georgian desserts and the only ones notable I could find related to walnuts are Churchkhela and Gozinaki but both are made of ripe walnuts (the semi round, brain-like inside) and not unripe whole ones.
Best Answer
It was most likely a simple preserve.
Unripe walnuts are commonly eaten in Eastern Europe, and preserve is one of the widespread preparations. (Maybe even the only widespread one besides liqueur - they are mostly eaten raw). I don't know about Georgia, but this certainly exists in other countries. It is a somewhat exotic preserve, compared to more common ones like strawberries, but something ordinary people know of (at least people of a jam-making generation).
For the preserve, the walnuts are cooked in sugar syrup and then sterilized, similar to other fruit like figs. Since the whole walnuts are used, the texture is indeed crunchy - the protoshell is left within the nut during the preparation, and while it isn't toothbreaking-hard yet, it does give a crunchy bite.
The way you describe it, it seems that it was served pure, to be eaten with a spoon. This is also typical for Eastern Europe and other cuisines with Ottoman influences. It is not the only way to eat jam and preserves, but it may be surprising for people from cultures where less sweet desserts are preferred.
For some background, you can read the Wikipedia page for this type of whole-fruit preserve (it is not specialized about the walnut preserve). Apparently, when cooked in the Caucasian region, the local word is "murabba".
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Churchkhela is a homemade Georgian product. Georgians usually make Churchkhela in Autumn when the primary ingredients, grapes and nuts, are harvested. It is a string of walnut halves that have been dipped in grape juice called Tatara or Phelamushi (grape juice thickened with flour), and dried in the sun.What is the dessert of Georgia?
GEORGIA: Peach pie Georgia peaches are known around the country, and even the world, so it probably comes as no surprise that the Peach State's most famous dessert is peach pie. According to State Symbols USA, Georgia-grown peaches are known for having "superior flavor, texture, appearance, and nutritious qualities."Is Gozinaki made with nuts?
Gozinaki (Georgian: \u10d2\u10dd\u10d6\u10d8\u10dc\u10d0\u10e7\u10d8) is a traditional Georgian confection made of caramelized nuts fried in honey and usually eaten at New Year and Christmas.How do you make churchkhela?
What is this? To make churchkhela, walnuts are threaded on a string and then dipped into the grape juice mixture. They are then hung to dry for a day or two, dipped again, and then hung to cure for a few more days until consumed.Is churchkhela healthy?
Churchkhela is a traditional Georgian candy which is many people referred to as 'Georgian Snickers'. It is a healthy combination of grape juice and nuts (walnuts or hazel).Churchkhela Recipe: Grape \u0026 Walnut Georgian Candy
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