Learn how to make the best cheese bread (also called Georgian Khachapuri – ხაჭაპური) – step by step. Easy, cheese bread, with 3 types of cheese in a boat-like form with an egg in the middle – recipe that always steals the show.
Today we are making one very easy, visually effective and very delicious recipe – Khachapuri (pronounced khach’ap’uri) – the famous Georgian cheese bread that steals the show every time. In fact, if we dive deeper into Georgian bread varieties, there are a few types of khachapuri bread (open and closed), based on the region they come from. Some look fancier than others, but all are delicious, especially if baked in a fire oven.
Today, we are preparing Adjarian khachapuri – native to a region on the coasts of the Black Sea (hence their boat-like shape) – where the sun meets the water. Traditionally, for the preparation of Khachpuri there are two or three cheese varieties used – tangy imeruli and sulguni. Since I live on the other side of the Black Sea I use whatever cheese is available in the store (namely Feta, Ricotta and Mozzarella). The result however is always as good.
If you like cheesy bread recipes be sure to check out my super simple Grissini Recipe (Mediterranean Cheese Breadsticks) or these Baked Cheese Bread Bites.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Dough
- White flour – I usually use type 00 Italian flour (like this one on Amazon), or all purpose
- Water – lukewarm water
- Fresh yeast, or instant dry yeast – personally prefer to work with fresh yeast (the one in cubes), it’s very easy to find in most European stores. However, instant active dry yeast works equally good.
- Pinch of sugar for activating fresh yeast, optional
- Pinch of salt
Filling
- Fresh ricotta cheese – or same amount of Cottage cheese
- Feta Cheese, crumbled – or same amount white cheese
- Mozzarella cheese, shredded – or substitute with shredded Cheddar cheese
- Eggs, medium size – free range, organic
How to make Georgian Khachapuri -step by step
Mix the 3 types of cheese in a bowl and set aside. Knead the dough and let rise. Divide in 4 equal parts and roll out each (should be thin, slightly longish).
Then, shape each part as a boat by rolling the dough inwards slightly. Fix the edges to one another to shape a boat. Then add cheese filling to each boat and bake until almost cooked (approx. 15 min. in my oven). Next, remove from oven and with fork make wholes in filling, then add one egg to each boat.
Bake for additional 5-10 min or until eggs are cooked. Serve warm.
How to make the best Khachapuri – VIDEO
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- Easy Cheese Bread (Georgian Khachapuri) -VIDEO
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Georgian Khachapuri – Easy Cheese Bread Recipe
Ingredients
Dough
- 420 g white flour, type 00 , or all purpose
- 240 ml water
- 10 g fresh yeast, or 7g instant dry yeast
- pinch of sugar for activating fresh yeast, optional
- pinch of salt
Filling
- 400 g ricotta cheese
- 100 g Feta Cheese, crumbled
- 200 g Mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 4 eggs, medium size
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl combine crumbled feta cheese, ricotta cheese and shredded mozzarella cheese. Mix well to combine and set aside.
- Next, in a large mixing bowl combine all dough ingredients (if using dry yeast). Then with kitchen robot/bread machine/hand knead a soft, non-stick dough. Alternatively, if fresh yeast is used, add fresh yeast to a small bowl cover with 2-4 tbsp. lukewarm water , add pinch of sugar and let sit for a while until it gets bubbly. Then add to remaining ingredients and knead. Dough should be soft, not sticky and elastic.
- Set dough aside for 20 minutes on room temperature (23C-26C/ 73F-78F) so dough rises and doubles in size. Then divide in 4 equal parts. Roll out thin and fold the edges to shape a boat (see pics above or video).
- Then add equal amounts of cheese filling to each boat (besides eggs) and bake for about 15 min. in preheated oven (180C/360F). Bread should be almost cooked. Remove from oven and with fork make space in each boat for an egg. Add eggs and bake again (same temperature) until eggs are cooked.
- Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Enjoy warm.
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