Prepare to embark on a culinary journey with our tantalizing Khachapuri – a Georgian delight that’s bound to make your taste buds dance! Contrary to popular belief, creating these cheesy wonders is much simpler than you might imagine. These cheese-filled bread pockets are not just a treat for the palate but also a joy to craft in your own kitchen. Join us in unraveling the secrets of making Khachapuri, and discover a world where simplicity meets indulgence!
Ingredients:
For the Dough:
- Water – 150 g (about 2/3 cup)
- Sugar – 2 tsp (10 g)
- Dry yeast – 2 tsp (10 g)
- Milk – 100 g (about 1/2 cup)
- Unsalted butter – 30 g (about 2 tbsp)
- Chicken egg – 1 piece (60 g)
- Salt – 1 tsp (5 g)
- All-purpose flour – 500 g (about 4 cups)
For the Filling:
- Suluguni cheese (or your favorite cheese) – 600 g
Instructions:
Prepare a sponge: slightly warm the water, add 2 teaspoons of sugar, and mix well. Add dry yeast, cover with plastic wrap or a towel, and leave on the table for 30 minutes.
Also, slightly warm the milk, melt the butter in the microwave, and let it cool. In a large bowl, sift the flour with salt, add the egg, milk, and melted butter.
Pour in the yeast mixture and knead the dough. Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes until it becomes elastic. Coat the finished dough with vegetable oil, place it in a deep bowl, and cover it. Allow the dough to rise for 2 hours.
Once the dough has risen, grate the cheese using a coarse grater.
Divide the dough into 3 parts. Roll out a portion of the dough into a circle, spread grated cheese (150 g) in the center. Lift the edges of the dough and gather them in the center.
Flip the dough pouch seam-side down and roll it out into a circle again. There will be air inside the bread, and you can release it by puncturing the Khachapuri in several places. Brush the bread with beaten egg yolk.
Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Transfer Khachapuri to a baking sheet and generously sprinkle with cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, then increase the oven temperature to the maximum and bake until golden brown (approximately 5 minutes).
Serve Megrelian Khachapuri warm.
Enjoy this cheesy delight!
