Round, sealed cheese-filled bread with a single slash on top — the everyday khachapuri of central Georgia.
While the boat-shaped Adjaruli khachapuri gets the Instagram glory, Imeruli khachapuri is the daily bread of Georgian households: a flat round disc of yeasted dough sealed with a salty cheese filling, baked or pan-cooked until the dough is golden and the cheese melts within. Cheaper, faster and just as beloved, it is the breakfast and tea-time bread of Imereti, the central Georgian region.
Serves 4
Combine flour, yeast, sugar, salt. Add warm milk, the egg (white + yolk minus the reserved yolk), oil. Knead 8 min into a soft, smooth dough. Cover and rise 1 hour.
Combine mozzarella, feta and 1 tbsp milk.
Divide dough into 2 pieces. Roll each into a circle 25 cm wide.
Place half the cheese filling in the centre. Pull the dough edges up around it like a bag, pinch closed at the top.
Turn the bag over, pinched-side down. Gently roll out into a flat disc 22 cm wide. Make a 5 cm slash in the centre top.
Brush with reserved egg yolk mixed with 1 tsp water.
Bake at 240°C/465°F for 12–14 minutes until deep golden brown.
Brush with melted butter while hot. Slice into wedges. Serve immediately.
The slash in the centre lets steam escape and prevents the bread from puffing into a balloon.
Don't overfill — too much cheese will burst through the dough.
Mingrelian (megruli) khachapuri: top with extra cheese before baking
Penovani: use puff pastry instead for a flaky version
Pan-cook on a flat skillet 6 min per side covered if no oven
Best fresh. Reheat in oven 180°C for 4 min.
Each Georgian region has its khachapuri: Imeruli (round, central Georgia), Adjaruli (boat-shaped, Black Sea coast), Megruli (round with cheese on top), and Penovani (flaky). Imeruli is the most home-cooked version — every household has one in the oven on weekends.
The dough is enriched with milk and egg, the cheese is sealed inside, and there's no tomato.
Yes — wrap shaped khachapuri before final proof, freeze. Bake from frozen +5 min.
Per serving · 4 servings total
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