Personally, I believe any variation of bread and cheese is acceptable for many meals, however it normally capabilities like a snack, a accomplice dish, or an appetizer. Lastly I’ve had a tacky bread that seems like a meal—khachapuri. This sensible Georgian dish is all of the melty cheese you would dream of, surrounded by carbs. And with this pizza dough hack, you don’t even must proof the bread for hours.
What’s khachapuri?
Khachapuri originated in Georgia (the nation, not the state) and is so beloved, it’s Georgia’s nationwide dish. This explicit sort of khachapuri is Adjarian khachapuri, named for the area of Georgia. The bread is formed like a ship, and its passengers are a pool of cheese, an egg yolk or complete egg, and a pat of butter. It is a boat I’d prefer to be in.
Cheat with pizza dough
Historically the bread portion is a yeast dough made out of scratch in a reasonably typical method— knead, proof, deflate, form, and proof once more. Although I’ve seen recipes which will incorporate milk, sugar, or yogurt, many are merely composed of flour, liquid, yeast, and salt. Excellent. Your grocery retailer sells bread identical to this and the arduous half is completed already. Seize a ball of pizza dough from the freezer part or the refrigerated aisle. We’re constructing a ship.
The best way to make khachapuri with pre-made pizza dough
Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
1. Stretch the dough
In case you’re utilizing frozen dough, you’ll must thaw it first. I normally put it within the fridge in a single day however in the event you’re brief on time use this water bathtub technique. Break up the dough ball. A 20-ounce ball of dough could make 4 personal-sized khachapuris, or you possibly can minimize the dough in half for 2 large shareable ones.
For the reason that completed form will likely be an oval, the dough ought to begin in an oval too. The easiest way to do that is to form the minimize segments into dough balls. (Try my video in the event you want a dough ball tutorial.) Now you should use a rolling pin—or use your palms if the dough is relaxed sufficient—to begin stretching out the dough in a single course to get a flat oval. My store-bought dough was pre-rolled into a big circle (a luxurious I seldom have), so I simply minimize it in half and stretched the middle out a bit. Put the ovals on a parchment lined baking sheet, and canopy it with a tea towel.
The cheese combination ought to be thick.
Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
2. Make the cheese combination
In addition to the distinctive form, the cheese combination is khachapuri’s signature characteristic. In Georgia it’s frequent to make use of imeruli or sulguni cheese. The cheese melts, has a little bit of stretch to it, a effective curd texture, and a nice tanginess. If these cheeses aren’t obtainable or fairly accessible you should use a cheese combination that replicates their traits. I used a combination of shredded mozzarella, muenster, ricotta, and feta cheeses. The following time I make it I believe I’ll use extra feta as a result of I missed the tangy taste. Combine the chopped or shredded cheeses in a bowl together with an egg, salt, pepper, and freshly chopped parsley in the event you like.
Left: The dough is being formed. Proper: The dough is in boat form.
Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
3. Fill the boats
Uncover the bread boats and break up the cheese combination evenly amongst them. Put the cheese combination within the middle and flatten it out in an oval form, however go away a one or two-inch border of dough. Roll the sides of the dough up towards the cheese middle so the dough curls over the sides of the cheese barely however don’t cowl the combination utterly. Twist the ends to carry the form.
My boats had numerous extra dough on the ends due to the pointed form I began with. There’s no must goal for that; simply seal or twist the ends nonetheless it feels pure.
Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
4. Bake the khachapuri
Egg wash the dough edges and bake the boats in a preheated 375°F oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or till the bread browns, and the cheese units and begins to barely puff on the sides. Take the khachapuri out of the oven. Use the again of a spoon to press a small divot into the cheese and drop a uncooked egg yolk into the despair. Add a pat of butter and serve it instantly. Alternatively, in the event you’re weirded out by uncooked egg, take the bread out of the oven midway by the bake time, make a divot within the cheese, and drop a complete egg onto the bread. Return it to the oven to finish the bake time and cook dinner the egg.
The cheese ought to nonetheless be scorching while you serve the bread. Use a fork to scramble up the cheese with the melted butter and egg yolk, so the yolk cooks within the residual warmth and the combination turns into thick and spreadable. Rip off chunks of the boat and ensure you choose up a few of the cheese combination from the middle.
Pizza dough cooked at this temperature stays comfortable and simply rippable, and this combination of cheeses gives a pleasant stability of tangy, melty stretch. I’ve a sense all the opposite variations of khachapuri are pretty much as good as this one, and I can’t wait to attempt them. I believe I’d must get a cheese-only fridge.
Fast and Simple Khachapuri
Elements:
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1 ball of pre-made pizza dough (minimize in half or quarters)
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1 egg
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½ cup complete milk ricotta cheese
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1 cup shredded complete milk mozzarella
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½ cup shredded muenster cheese
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¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
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½ teaspoon salt
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½ teaspoon black pepper
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1 tablespoon chopped contemporary parsley
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Egg wash for the bread
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2-4 eggs or egg yolks (one per boat)
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Pats of butter for ending
1. Stretch out the dough balls, or roll them with a pin, till you may have an extended oval (about 14 inches lengthy for half the dough, or eight inches lengthy for private measurement). Place the ovals on parchment lined baking sheets. Cowl the dough with a tea towel and put aside. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the egg, cheeses, salt, pepper, and parsley collectively till effectively mixed.
3. Uncover the dough boats and divide the cheese combination amongst them. Unfold out the cheese combination to fill the middle, however go away a one to two-inch border all the way in which round. Roll the sides as much as the cheese and have it curl over the filling a bit. Don’t cowl the filling utterly. Twist the ends to carry the form. Repeat this with the opposite boats.
4. Egg wash the sides and bake the khachapuri breads for 20 to 25 minutes, or till the bread browns and the cheese is melted and ever so barely puffing across the edges. Use the again of a spoon to press an indent into the cheese and add a uncooked egg yolk. Add a pat of butter and instantly serve the boats piping scorching.
For cooked eggs, take away the khachapuri midway by the cooking time. Press an indent into the cheese with a spoon and add a complete egg to every boat. Return them to the oven for the remainder of the cooking time, till the eggs are cooked to your liking. Serve instantly.
