Filled with garlic and cheese! "Matsuya-style Shkmeruli" recipe

Cream stew is a dish that is much missed during the cold season. On days when you feel that it is a little too much for a family that is eating a lot or for a drink, why not try "shkumerli"?

Shkumerli is a traditional dish from Eastern Europe and Georgia, where chicken is stewed in a garlic cream sauce. In Japan, shkumerli became well-known when it was introduced at Matsuya restaurant this year.

Did you know that Matsuya's Shkumerli is actually available as an official recipe? I actually tried making it and found it to be delicious, which even the author, a heavy Matsuya user, agreed with.

Ingredients (for 2 servings)

- 1 chicken thigh (about 250g (8.82oz))
- 1 small sweet potato (about 150g (5.29oz))
- 200ml (6.76us fl oz) milk
- 10g (0.35oz) grated garlic or as much as you like
- 1 white stew roux
- 15g (0.53oz) unsalted butter (or salted)
- A little salt and pepper
- 1 teaspoon salad oil
- A little lemon juice
- A little soy sauce
Shredded cheese to taste
・ Parsley (for finishing) to taste

Directions

1. Cut sweet potatoes into 1 cm rounds and soak in water. Drain, place in a baking dish, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave (600W) for 3 minutes. 2.


2. Trim excess fat from chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.


3. Place the chicken, skin side down, in a frying pan with salad oil and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes. 4.
When well done, turn the chicken over and add the garlic. 5.


5. When the garlic is fragrant, add milk and butter, cover the pan and cook over low heat for about 5 minutes.


6. Turn off the heat once, dissolve the sweet potato and roux, and cook over low heat for 5 minutes until thickened.


Finish with lemon juice and soy sauce, and top with shredded cheese and parsley.



Matsuya says that it is served with rice with soy sauce, which is Matsuya's style. The hot chicken and thick cream sauce are a perfect match by themselves, and the garlic stirs up the appetite even more. The slightly sweet sweet potato is a perfect chopstick rest, and the dish is so delicious that you can't stop eating it. Enjoy topping with as much garlic and cheese as you like. If you have a skillet with a lid, you can serve this dish as is, so be sure to add it to your cold season repertoire!