WHAT IS A KHACHAPURI?
Also called Georgian cheese bread or Christmas pie, this recipe is traditionally served on January 7th. This pastry is a sinfully delicious recipe that involves melted cheese and a sunny side up egg on top! Yeasted dough is molded into a football shape, and a mix of fresh and older, sharper cheeses are melted in a crater on top. Khachapuri bread is so popular that the government of Georgia actually uses the price of khachapuri to measure inflation. There are almost a dozen different versions the most popular being Imeretian (named after the cheese used). While there are a variety of ways to eat one, traditionally butter is stirred into the egg and cheese before taking your first bite.
WHERE IS THE BEST KHACHAPURI MADE?
This dish is hard to find outside of the country of Georgia. However in the northeast USA there are some ethnic bakeries and restaurants that serve this delicious bread!
WHAT KIND OF FLOUR AND STARTER SHOULD I USE?
Flour, salt, yeast and sugar are combined along with some milk and oil. Check out this recipe to see how to make one! Furthermore many restaurants in the States will use a blend of low moisture mozzarella and feta. This keeps the whey runoff to a minimum.
HOW SHOULD KHACHAPURI BE STORED?
With an egg on top this isn’t a bread that keeps for long so eat it fast! However the dough before cooking can be stored in a refrigerator or freezer. If you are reheating one, use a stovetop fry pan with a bit of oil. But be careful not to overcook if an egg is on top.
WHO INVENTED KHACHAPURI?
Khachapuri bread is thought to have been invented by sailors. That’s why its oval football shape is actually meant to have the form of a boat. The sunny side up egg is meant to represent the sun. And the melted cheese is the sea.
