Khachapuri Georgian Cheese Pie Food

KHACHAPURI (GEORGIAN CHEESE BREAD)

Steps:

• Combine milk, water, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl. Let stand until yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 5 minutes. Add olive oil, 2 cups flour, and salt. Mix until a sticky dough comes together.
• Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead for about 3 minutes, adding in remaining flour as needed, until dough is very soft but still workable. Form into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in volume, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Combine Monterey Jack, mozzarella, and feta cheeses in a bowl. Toss together and refrigerate until needed.
• Punch down dough and turn out onto a floured surface. Flatten slightly and cut in half. Dust a large sheet of parchment paper with flour. Place 1 dough half on top and roll out into a square about 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick, stretching out the corners as needed. Arrange 1/4 of the cheese in 2 rows, 1 to 2 inches from the longest sides. Roll sides up tightly over the cheese, forming a canoe shape around the dough. Pinch and twist ends to seal.
• Cut off excess parchment around the dough; lift dough onto a baking sheet. Repeat shaping and stuffing the other dough half. Fill the canoe with the remaining cheese mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Form a well in the center of each khachapuri using a spoon; crack an egg inside each well.
• Return to oven and bake until eggs are mostly set, 3 to 4 minutes. Place 2 pats of butter over each filling and sprinkle salt and cayenne on top. Plate khachapuri; tear off one end and use it to stir the butter into the egg.

KHACHAPURI ADJARULI (GEORGIAN CHEESE BREAD BOAT)

Steps:

• Make the dough (but if you're using store-bought, proceed to Step 2): In a small saucepan over low, heat 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons/150 milliliters water until hot but not simmering. Turn off heat. In a large bowl, with your hands or a wooden spoon, stir together flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Check the temperature of reserved, warmed water; it should be warm to the touch, between 105 and 110 degrees. Add it to the flour mixture and, with your hands, knead mixture into a smooth dough, about 5 minutes.
• Pour olive oil into a medium bowl. Holding dough with one hand, use it to coat the inside of the bowl with the oil. Set the dough in the bowl, oiled portion facing up. Cover bowl with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until it doubled in volume, about 2 hours.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees (or 425, if using a convection oven). Line a half sheet tray with parchment paper; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, stretch and roll dough into a circle, 1/4-inch thick, 10 to 12 inches across. Brush off excess flour, then lay the dough on the sheet tray. Using your fingers, roll, press and pinch two opposite sides of the circle a few inches into the center, building sides up, then press and pinch the narrow ends together to form two points. Continue to pinch and press the sides to create a raised rim and form the dough into an oval boat with an eye-like shape. Let rest in a warm place while you prepare the filling.
• In a medium bowl, combine mozzarella, goat cheese and feta with 3 tablespoons water. Stir with a fork until the mixture is thoroughly blended. Scrape the cheese mixture into the center of the dough boat, spreading it into an even layer.
• Bake khachapuri until the crust begins to brown and the cheese is melted, about 15 minutes. Remove pan from oven, leaving oven on. Brush sides of khachapuri generously with melted butter. Return khachapuri to the oven for an additional 5 minutes until the crust is extra crisp and the cheese just starts to brown around the edges.
• Using a spoon, make a shallow, 2-inch-wide well in the center of the cheese. Add the egg yolk and cold butter (if using), and serve immediately. To serve, hold down one pointed end of the hot khachapuri with a fork; using another fork, quickly stir the egg and butter (if using) into the cheese mixture until it's smooth and stretchy. Rip pieces of the bread boat off to dip in the cheese while it's still hot.

GEORGIAN SPINACH KHACHAPURI

Steps:

• In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle, mix the flour and the salt. Add the egg, oil, and seltzer, and mix to form a soft dough. Turn out the dough and knead, by hand, for 1 minute, until the dough is elastic.
• Divide the dough into 4 pieces, form into balls, cover in plastic, and let rest in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• When chilled, roll the ball into a square. Trim the edges, and brush with melted butter. Fold the dough in half, and brush with butter. Fold the dough in half again, to make a square. Place 1/2 cup Spinach-Cheese Filling in the center. Sprinkle with some string cheese. Fold up the corners like a half open envelope. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Bake for 25 minutes.
• For the Spinach-Cheese Filling: Mix together the cream cheese, hazelnuts, garlic, cilantro, coriander, cayenne, fenugreek, salt, and black pepper. Thoroughly drain the spinach and chop. Mix into the mixture, then fold in the feta. Set aside until ready to use.

KHACHAPURI, GEORGIAN CHEESE FILLED FLAT BREAD

Steps:

• Dough (Khachapuri):.
• Line a spring form pan with butter.
• In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in 1/4 cup of warm water.
• Stir in the sugar/honey and let stand until foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Add the remaining water, the butter and the salt.
• Stir in 2 cups of the flour.
• Gradually add enough of the remaining flour so that the mixture holds together.
• On a floured surface, knead the dough until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. (To knead in a food processor, combine the flour, butter and salt in the work bowl of the food processor and add the yeast mixture. With the machine on, gradually add enough warm water until the dough forms a ball, then process around the bowl about 25 times.).
• Shape into a ball, place in a large oiled bowl turning to coat, cover, and let rise until nearly doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch down the dough and roll into a 20-inch round about 1/4 inch thick.
• Fit the dough into the greased spring form pan, letting the excess drape over the sides.
• Spoon in the filling (Filling directions at the end of the recipe).
• Gather the edges together to meet in the center, pleating the dough as evenly as possible into overlapping folds. Twist the dough ends that meet in the center to form a knob.
• Cover and let stand for about 30 minutes.
• Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Brush the khachapuri with the egg mixture (Beat the egg with 1 tsp water).
• Bake until golden brown, about an hour.
• Let cool for 30 minutes before slicing.
• Georgian Cheese Filling (Khveli):.
• In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and stir to blend.

NANA'S HACHAPURI OR GEORGIAN CHEESE BREAD.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Place flour in bowl then in a separate bowl mix the yogurt and egg then mix in softened oil [or butter] using a fork or mixer. Add the baking soda and salt.
• Add the flour, a little at a time, until you have a very soft dough. If dough is too soft, add a little more flour. Place into a floured bowl, cover and let rest for at least 20 minute.
• To make filling:
• Crumble feta then add ricotta, grated mozzarella into bowl and mix. Now add egg and mix again. Set aside.
• On a heavily floured surface, take half the dough and roll it out to fit a 13-15 inch pizza pan. Place it onto pan. Spread cheese mixture onto it, leaving a small border around the entire edge.
• Roll out the other half of dough to fit on top. Place it over the cheese mixture. Fold in the edges to seal the cheese mixture inside, rolling to form an edge. Press all around with fork to seal.
• Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool until warm before you cut it.
• NOTE THE HALVED VERSION:.
• dough:.
• 350 g flour.
• 250 g low fat yogurt.
• 1 egg.
• 25 g extra virgin olive oil.
• 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• 1 teaspoon baking soda.
• filling:.
• 200 g feta cheese.
• 200 g ricotta.
• 125 g (1) mozzarella.
• use whole egg.
• Note: If using egg beaters for the filling half the amount called for to make 1 egg.

KHACHAPURI (GEORGIAN CHEESE PIE)

Steps:

• In a large bowl add yoghurt, 1 egg, melted butter, baking soda, salt and 3 cups of flour.
• Mix together with your hands. Add the remaining flour slowly and knead mixture. Dough should form as soft but not sticky.
• In a separate bowl mix together 2 eggs and all the cheese. Mash this into a smooth paste.
• Separate the dough into 4 pieces.
• Roll each piece on a floured board to make a circle with approx 40cm diameter.
• Add 1/4 of the cheese mixture into the centre of the dough and flatten out until it is 10cm from the edge.
• Fold in the edges of the dough and collect in the centre. Pinch close.
• Melt 25grams butter in a frypan on medium heat.
• Add the khachapuri seam-side down (You can only cook one pie at a time) and fry until golden brown.
• Turn over and fry the other side.
• Repeat with the remaining khachapuris.
• Rub some melted butter on the hot khachapuri before serving.
• This can be served in wedges, hot or cold.