Georgian Cheese Bread (Russian Khachapuri)

Serves: 8

There are hundreds of recipes for this Eastern European cheese bread.

Some recipes call for yogurt or sour cream.

This "never fail" recipe is simple and does not.

Sulguni cheese is traditional but very hard to find. A mixture of havarti and "factory" mozzarella is a good substitute.

Some are made dumpling sized and some, like this one are pizza or focaccia-like.

I don't knead bread anymore so everything is done with a dough hook in my Kitchenaid 5.

2 1/4 teaspoons yeast

7 tablespoons warm water (105-115°)

1 2/3 cups AP flour plus a little more

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 large or three small eggs

1/4 pound grated havarti cheese

1/4 pound packaged/shredded mozzarella cheese

1 teaspoon butter

In a bowl, sprinkle yeast over 7 tablespoons of warm water and 1 tablespoon flour, then stir and set aside for about 5 minutes.

In a KA bowl, sift in salt and flour. Add a beaten large or 2 small eggs and the yeast mixture.

Stir to mix and then start the dough hook for 5 minutes. If the dough climbs the hook, add a teaspoon of flour.

Form into a ball and dust with flour.

Let dough rest in the bowl.

Cover with plastic wrap or foil.

Punch down with a wet fist and fold in half 4 times, once each hour, for 3 hours.

Preheat oven to 500° with the oven rack in the middle position.

Lightly butter a lipped baking sheet. (just the center 14 inches is fine)

Place the dough on the sheet and flatten with your fingers into a 10 inch disk.

Lightly ball up the mixed cheeses and place the ball in middle of dough.

Then gather dough up around ball of cheese slightly overlapping each corner.

With a damp fist, press cheese out from center towards the edges. Keep pressing and flattening the loaf to form a rough round approximately 12-14 inches in diameter.

Slice the dough to just expose cheese.

Brush with an egg wash. (You can omit this and bake for 12 minutes and then brush with melted butter and return to oven for remaining baking time)

Bake for 15 minutes and take a peek. It may need up to 3 minutes more.

To serve, cut into wedges.

NUTRITION FACTSAmount per ServingCalories 139 Calories From Fat 36 % Daily Value*Total Fat 4g 6% Saturated Fat 2g 10%Cholesterol 45mg 15%Sodium 341mg 14%Total Carbohydrate 19g 6% Dietary Fiber 0g 0% Sugars 0g Protein 4g Vitamin A 3% Vitamin C 4% Calcium 10% Iron 6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.