Abkhazian Khachapuri
Description
The pastry is prepared simply and quickly. Making Abkhazian khachapuri is not difficult at all; it’s a simple pastry, and a step‑by‑step guide will help you with it. Use any soft cheese, you can also use a blend of cheeses. Add herbs to taste. It can be served with tea or coffee.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Prepare the ingredients for making khachapuri.
- 2
Step 2
Pour warm milk into the mixing bowl, add the yeast, stir, and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- 3
Step 3
Add the sugar and 5 teaspoons of flour to the milk. Stir, let stand for 15 minutes.
- 4
Step 4
Add vegetable and softened butter to the starter, pour in half of the egg, previously beaten. Reserve the other half of the egg for brushing before baking.
- 5
Step 5
Sift the flour.
- 6
Step 6
Knead the dough, mixing with a mixer or by hand, for 5–7 minutes. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap, place in a warm spot to rise for 1.5–2 hours, and during the proofing give it a fold.
- 7
Step 7
While the dough rises, work on the filling. Mash the soft cream cheese with a fork.
- 8
Step 8
Grate the suluguni.
- 9
Step 9
Finely chop the herbs, add them to the cheese filling, and stir.
- 10
Step 10
Divide the ready dough into two parts, roll the dough into a ball.
- 11
Step 11
I will show two ways of shaping and baking khachapuri. The first method. Roll out or stretch the dough by hand, place the cheese filling inside, gather the ends "into a knot".
- 12
Step 12
Carefully, without pressing too hard, roll out the flatbread with a rolling pin to a diameter of about 30 cm. Make a small hole in the center.
- 13
Step 13
Place the flatbread in a pan or baking dish of the appropriate diameter, and brush it with a mixture of egg and a tablespoon of milk.
- 14
Step 14
Bake in the oven at 220 °C for 12–15 minutes. Transfer the ready khachapuri to a plate and generously brush with butter.
- 15
Step 15
Second method. Roll out a thin flatbread of large diameter with a rolling pin.
- 16
Step 16
Place the filling in the center of the flatbread.
- 17
Step 17
Fold the ends of the dough toward the center.
- 18
Step 18
Carefully roll out the flatbread with a rolling pin, transfer it onto a baking sheet, and brush it with a mixture of egg and milk.
- 19
Step 19
Bake it like the first flatbread. Arrange the khachapuri in a stack and brush with butter.
- 20
Step 20
The Abkhazian khachapuri turned out very tasty. They are good both hot and cold. I highly recommend preparing this simple, delicious, and hearty dish!