Ajarian Khachapuri (Georgian Cheese And Egg Bread)
Ajarian Khachapuri (Georgian Cheese And Egg Bread)
Fresh baked bread filled and stuffed with cheese and topped with an egg.
Servings
4
Ingredients
- 3 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon dry active yeast
- 1 2/3 cup milk
- 4 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon white sugar
- 2 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 1/2 cup shredded imeruli cheese - or substituted with muenster cheese, provolone or mozzarella cheese (or combination of the 3, and 1 cup of crumbled feta)
- 3 eggs
- 1 tablespoon water
Directions
- 1. Combine milk and 2 tablespoons of butter in a saute pan and warm over medium heat. The mixture should become hot to the touch but should not be boiling.
- 2. Add the yeast and sugar and allow to sit for about 10 minutes (the yeast should begin to react and become frothy).
- 3. Add the flour and salt to bowl. Add the milk mixture and combine with your hands. Once the dough is formed, adjust with a little more water or flour until the mixture is elastic and the dough bounces back after being pressed with your finger.
- 4. Pour 1 Tablespoon of oil on your hands and continue to kneed for about 5 minutes.
- 5. Place the dough in a greased and covered bowl and allow to sit for about 45 minutes (until the dough has doubled in size).
- 6. In the mean time, combine the cheeses together in a bowl and set aside.
- 7. When the dough has risen, remove it from the bowl and kneed on a floured surface for about 10 minutes.
- 8. Cut the dough into 2 equal parts.
- 9. Roll the dough into an oval shape.
- 10. Place 1/2 of the cheese in the center of each loaf, leaving about 1/2 inch around the outside.
- 11. Pinch the ends together and fold the outside of the bread over, leaving the center exposed.
- 12. Twist each end once (see pictorial instructions and a video at the end of this recipe).
- 13. Whisk together the water and 1 egg, forming an egg wash. Brush the egg wash onto the dough around the edge of the loaf.
- 14. Repeat for the second loaf.
- 15. Place the bread on a cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes at 450 degrees.
- 16. When the cheese starts to begin to brown, crack and egg into the center of each loaf and bake for another 5 - 6 minutes. The white should be almost set and the yolk should be runny.
- 17. Remove from the oven and top each loaf with 1 tablespoon of butter.
- 18. Serve warm.
- 19. To eat, mix the egg yolk into the cheese mixture, being sure to scoop some of the cheese from under the crust.
- 20. Rip the bread in chunks and dip inside the cheese mixture. Enjoy!