Khachapuri, as a classic recipe of Caucasian cuisine, has a huge number of varieties and variations. Initially, from the Georgian language, the name of the dish is translated as "bread with cottage cheese", but at the moment, khachapuri is prepared with a variety of fillings.
Khachapuri is a classic dish, but there are more than 30 recipes for its preparation in Georgia alone (and besides Georgian khachapuri, there are Ossetian, Kabardian and other versions of this wonderful dish). The original translation of the word "khachapuri" meant "dough with cottage cheese", but in different regions of Georgia it is customary to put cheese, fish, meat, herbs, etc. in the filling of pies of this type. In addition to the filling, different doughs (yeast, non-yeast, puff) can be used in khachapuri, and the cooking method can be changed (pies can be fried or baked in the oven or in the oven).
Filling in Georgian khachapuri
One of the most widespread recipes in Russia for Adjarian khachapuri or acharuli uses Imeretian cheese (soft cow cheese aged in brine), butter and eggs as a filling. Since this type of cake is open, the egg not only adds flavor, but also decorates the boat. Traditionally, an egg is added to Adjarian khachapuri at the very end of baking, the yolk remains watery so that pieces of dough can be dipped into it.
In another fairly well-known recipe for closed khachapuri - Megrelian khachapuri, named after the region in Georgia where this recipe came from, the filling is suluguni cheese, butter and finely chopped aromatic herbs (dill, cilantro, parsley). In the absence of suluguni, you can use feta cheese or Imeretian cheese.
In the Svaneti region, khachapuri is usually made with finely minced meat (beef, lamb), ground black pepper, suneli hops and any greens in the house. Closed Svan khachapuri most of all resemble classic pies.
Khachapuri in Rachin style can be of two types: traditional (with young salted cheese) and lobiani. The people of Rachin sprinkle the classic khacharuri with ground lentils on top (previously they were also sprinkled with hemp seeds). In lobiani, the stuffing is boiled beans with spices, pieces of smoked meat and herbs. Lobiani are made in the form of closed boats.
Filling options in modern cooking
Despite the canons of the recipe, now many people prepare khachapuri with fillings such as: fried mushrooms, chicken fillet, cheese with tomatoes and herbs, mashed potatoes with herbs, eggs and onions. The well-known Ossetian pies, a variation on the Georgian khachapuri theme, can be made with minced meat, spinach leaves and any kind of hard cheese in the house.
