Khmeli suneli
A Georgian blend of dried herbs and ground seeds, chiefly blue fenugreek, coriander and marigold, with a warm, nutty, herbal flavour.
Khmeli suneli is Georgia's best-known spice blend, a greenish-brown powder of dried herbs and ground seeds. Its make-up varies by region and household, but it almost always includes blue fenugreek (called utskho suneli in Georgian), coriander seed and marigold petals, often along with dill, summer savory, parsley, mint, basil, bay leaf and black pepper. It tastes warm, nutty and faintly bitter, with a herbal, hay-like aroma; the marigold adds colour and a mild, earthy note. The blend is usually cooked into dishes such as stews, sauces, walnut pastes and meat, and it opens up best in fat or during long braising. It can be found in Russian, Eastern European or Caucasian grocery shops, well-stocked spice shops and from online retailers.
Substitute:
A rough version can be mixed at home: ground coriander in equal parts with dried dill, summer savory and mint, plus a little ground fenugreek seed or, better, dried fenugreek leaves from an Indian grocer. Ordinary fenugreek is more bitter and sharper than blue fenugreek, so use it sparingly; without marigold the colour and earthy note are missing, and a pinch of turmeric replaces only the colour. The result is recognisably similar but not the same.