Georgian Imeruli Khachapuri (Cheese Bread) Recipe
Khachapuri is considered the national dish of Georgia. The cost of making this beloved Georgian delicacy is even used to measure inflation in several cities through the "khachapuri index," which was developed by the International School of Economics at Tbilisi State University.There are many variations of Imeruli Khachapuri that are widely enjoyed across Georgia. It is commonly found in both restaurants and as street food. Outside of Georgia, it is also popular in places like Russia, Armenia, Israel, and New York City. Imeruli Khachapuri is a traditional Georgian bread filled with cheese. The dough is typically made from flour, water, milk, salt, and a leavening agent, such as yeast or baking soda.
Ingredients
For the dough
- Kefir, buttermilk, or plain yogurt - 3/4 cup
- Egg (beaten) - 1
- Sugar - 1 tbsp
- Salt - 1/2 tsp
- Baking soda - 1/2 tsp
- All-purpose white flour - 2 cups + 1/4 cup (for flouring the surface)
- Vegetable oil - 2 tbsp
- Butter - 2 tbsp
For the Filling
- Sulguni cheese - 1/2 pound
- Egg, beaten (optional) - 1
- pinch of salt (optional)
Instructions
To make the dough:
- Begin by taking a large bowl and adding the kefir, egg, sugar and salt to it. Combine all the ingredients well.
- Now, add the baking soda and combine for a few seconds until you observe the bubbles forming.
- It’s time to take the bowl with wet ingredients and sift half of the flour into it. With the help of a wooden spoon or spatula, combine everything until you achieve a smooth consistency.
- Now, add the vegetable oil and keep mixing until the oil is well combined into the dough.
- Sift the remaining flour into the bowl and begin kneading the dough using your bare hands.
- Lightly flour a surface and scrape the prepared dough onto it. Knead it properly until it's smooth and not stickier.
- Next, take the dough and divide it into four parts, shaping them into balls. Place the prepared dough balls back into the bowl and cover it with plastic wrap and a tea towel. Keep it away to allow the dough to rest for approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
To prepare the filling:
- Take a bowl and grate the cheese into it. Throw in the egg (if using). Combine and add a little bit of salt to season it. Divide it into four shares.
To shapethe khachapuri:
- Begin by taking a dough ball and flattening it using your fingers. Once done, roll it with the help of a rolling pin into a circle.
- Add ¼ of the filling to the center of the dough circle.
- Pull the boundaries of the dough over the filling and pinch them firmly together to secure the filling.
- Now, gently flatten the khachapuri with the help of your fingers and/or a rolling pin. Be careful to not rip the dough. If you notice a bubble forming inside, take a toothpick and pinch the dough. It will help to release the air. Make sure to roll as thin as possible. Repeat with the rest of the dough balls.
To cook khachapuri:
- Take butter and melt it in a microwave or on the stovetop.
- Take a skillet and heat it over a medium flame.
- Keep a khachapuri on the hot skillet and allow it to cook until it becomes golden in color and is a bit charred in a few areas. This should take you about 3 minutes. Once done, flip and allow the other side to cook.
- Once the cheese has completely melted and the bread is properly cooked, place it on a flat plate and brush it with a generous amount of melted butter.
- Repeat the procedure with the remaining khachapuri and voila!
Nutrition
Calories: 496kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 24gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 172mgSodium: 1197mgSugar: 12g
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