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khatchapuri Georgian cheese boats recipe easy dinner Shavuot
Photo credit Shannon Sarna

Khatchapuri

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A boat-shaped Georgian bread filled with melted cheese, topped with an egg and butter.

 
 
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 2

Ingredients

For the dough:

  • ⅔ cup warm water
  • 1 tsp dry yeast
  • ¼ tsp sugar
  • 1½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1½ tsp sea salt
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil plus more for brushing

For the filling:

  • 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1½ cups shredded Munster cheese
  • 1 cup brynzda cheese (can also use feta cheese)
  • 4 Tbsp butter
  • 2 egg yolks, carefully separated from the white (save the whites for pavlova!)

Instructions

  1. Combine warm water, yeast and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with dough hook attachment, or just a large, regular ol’ bowl, and allow the yeast to bloom (start to bubble). Allow to sit for 5 minutes.
  2. Add flour, salt, and olive oil and mix on low for 2 minutes until dough starts to come together. Raise speed to medium and mix for another 3 minutes. The dough will be soft — don’t expect it to be super firm, and try to resist the urge of adding more flour.
  3. Place dough in an oiled bowl and cover with plastic or a towel. Allow to rise in a warm spot in the kitchen for one hour.
  4. While dough is rising, preheat oven to 450°F and place a pizza stone in the oven. If you don’t have a pizza stone, you can use a baking sheet (a dark color baking sheet is better for this).
  5. To make the filling: combine the cheese in a small bowl. Cut butter into 1 Tbsp portions (you will use 2 Tbsp for each cheese bread).
  6. When dough has risen, divide into two pieces. Working on top of a lightly floured piece of parchment, gently stretch each piece of dough into 12 inch-long ovals.
  7. Spread a quarter of cheese mixture in the middle of each bread, leaving ½ inch border all the way around.
  8. Pinch the ends, rolling tight to form points on either side. Add the remaining cheese evenly onto each bread.
  9. Brush the bread with a light coating of olive oil. Allow to rise again 15 minutes.
  10. With the bread remaining on the parchment paper, slide onto the pizza stone or baking sheet. (You can make the breads one at a time or bake simultaneously.)
  11. Bake for 13-14 minutes, or until golden and the cheese is bubbly. Remove cheese bread from oven, and gently add egg yolk to the middle of the bread, taking care not to break. Bake for another 1-2 minutes.
  12. Remove from oven and immediately add 2 Tbsp butter to the bread, one on either side of the egg yolk.
  13. Serve by swirling the yolk, cheese and butter all together. This dish is best eaten while still hot.

Notes

Special equipment: pizza stone or dark baking sheet, parchment paper.

  • Author: Shannon Sarna
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Entree
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Ashkenazi