Tkemali sauce with tomatoes 

Tkemali is a Georgian spicy sauce. Georgian cuisine is distinguished by the use of a large number of different spices and herbs. Such dishes are very healthy and tasty. It is impossible to use such products only for those who suffer from gastritis or peptic ulcer. Traditional tkemali is prepared on the basis of yellow or red plums. You can also use cherry plum. This sauce has a pleasant sweet and sour taste with a mint-lemon flavor. Georgians prefer to cook the classic version of tkemali. But over time, many other cooking options have appeared that have become no less popular. In such sauces, not only the main ingredients are added, but also other seasonal fruits. In this article, we will learn how to cook tkemali with tomatoes.

Useful properties of the sauce

Now tkemali can be prepared from a variety of berries. For example, red currants, gooseberries and plums of different varieties are used for this. The classic recipe contains pennyroyal called ombalo. If this is not available, you can use any other mint. This sauce is usually served with meat and fish dishes. It also goes well with pasta and vegetables. Many housewives completely refuse store-bought ketchups and sauces, because tkemali does not contain any harmful components and preservatives.

Since tkemali contains only fruits and herbs, it will not bring any harm to human health. Spices that contain active substances will only improve the digestion process. The sauce also retains some vitamins, such as nicotinic and ascorbic acid, E, B1, B2. Such an additive to the main dishes has a positive effect on the heart muscle, as well as on the transport of oxygen throughout the body. It improves the condition of the hair and upper layers of the skin, in addition, improves brain function.

Cherry plum has almost the same properties and taste as plums, so it can be safely replaced with this important component. Of course, this sauce can no longer be called a classic tkemali, but it has a similar taste and is very popular with many gourmets.

Tkemali recipe with tomatoes

You can also make a wonderful sauce with the addition of tomatoes. For this wonderful recipe we need:

• two kilograms of plums;
• two kilograms of ripe tomatoes;
• 300 gram of onions;
• one hot pepper;
• one bunch each of parsley and basil;
• 100 grams of celery root;
• one teaspoon of spices (cloves, cinnamon, ground black pepper, mustard powder);
• one st. l. salt;
• 100 ml of 9% table vinegar;
• 200 grams of granulated sugar.

Such tkemali is prepared as follows:

1. The first step is to wash all the tomatoes under running water. Then the stalks are cut out of them and everything is scrolled through a meat grinder. You can also use a blender.

   

2. Next, proceed to the plums. They are also well washed. Then you need to get a bone from each plum.

   

3. Prepared plums are also crushed with a meat grinder or blender.

   

4. After that, you need to rinse and remove the seeds from the pepper. This must be done with gloves.
5. Then the onions are peeled and washed under running water. It should also be ground or chopped with a blender.
6. Now you can mix the main ingredients. Ground plums, tomatoes and onions are placed in a suitable pan and put on fire. The mass is brought to a boil, and then granulated sugar is added.

   

7. Parsley and basil are washed and tied into a tight bun. Then the greens are dipped in a boiling sauce for 1 minute. This is enough time for the parsley and basil to give off their flavor.

   

8. Now you can add all the remaining spices and salt to the tkemali.

   

9. Hot pepper must be completely dipped in the sauce. Next, it is boiled for 20 minutes.

   

10. After this time, it is necessary to pass the entire mass through a sieve. Then the liquid is again put on the stove and boiled for another 20 minutes.

    

11. Table vinegar is poured into the sauce 5 minutes before readiness. Then turn off the fire and immediately pour the tkemali into sterilized jars. They are rolled up and left to cool. The sauce is ready!

The second option for preparing tomato tkemali for the winter

As mentioned above, the sauce can be prepared not only from plums, but also from cherry plums. And instead of tomatoes, we will try to add ready-made tomato paste. This will simplify the cooking process, since it will not be necessary to wash and grind the tomatoes.

So, to prepare tkemali from cherry plum and tomato paste, we need:

• red cherry plum – one kilogram;
• high-quality tomato paste – 175 grams;
• food salt – 2 teaspoons;
• granulated sugar – 70 gram;
• fresh garlic – about 70 grams;
• coriander – about 10 grams;
• 1 hot pepper;
• water – one and a half liters.

The sauce is prepared as follows:

1. The cherry plum is washed and poured into the prepared pan. It is filled with water and put on fire. Plum should be brought to a boil and boiled for about 10 minutes. Then the liquid is poured into any container, it will still be useful to us.

   

2. The berries are left for a while to cool slightly. After that, you need to get the bones from the cherry plum, and rub the finished plums through a sieve or with a blender.
3. In a small container, you should also grind the peeled garlic with the addition of salt and coriander with a blender.
4. Then grated cherry plum, garlic mixture, hot pepper, granulated sugar and tomato paste are mixed in a saucepan. The consistency at this stage should resemble liquidish sour cream. If the mixture is a little thick, then you can add the left broth.

   

5. Put the saucepan on the fire and, stirring constantly, bring to a boil. Then the sauce is boiled over low heat for about 20 minutes. After turning off the tkemali, you can immediately pour into jars. Containers for harvesting are pre-washed and sterilized.

During cooking, do not leave the pan for a long time, as a large amount of foam will be released. The sauce needs to be constantly stirred. Tomato sauce is not suitable for this recipe, it is better to use tomato paste. It is thicker and more concentrated. Instead of coriander, hops-suneli seasoning is also suitable.

Conclusion

Tkemali with tomatoes is no less tasty and healthy option for making a popular sauce. Each tkemali recipe has its own zest and unique taste. Try making this wonderful winter sauce at home!