Mini Khachapuri
Khachapuri is one of life’s culinary treasures. I’ve eaten it at restaurants, made it at home. Sometimes I make my own dough, but frequently I use store-bought pizza dough which — I confess — isn’t exactly like khachapuri dough but makes this dish much easier to prepare.
Also, cutting the classic long, boat-shaped khachapuri into single servings is fine, I’ve done it many times, but it’s much more convenient to serve individual ones. Also they’re much easier to prepare if you make them round, like pizza, rather than shape them into boats.
These days? I like easy.
So I made a recent batch of khachapuri into individual “pizzas.”
Yes, this is not the authentic way. You don’t have to tell me that. I know. I know.
But jeeeeez! They are so good! So it’s okay.
I added spinach to the last batch I made. Nope, that’s not traditional either. But it was delicious. And added some color too.
Khachapuri is a good dish any time for any meal! But because it’s a dairy — cheese item — it’s perfect for Shavuot. Hanukkah too.
Mini spinach Khachapuri
cornmeal
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup farmer cheese (or use dry curd cottage cheese)
1/2 cup chopped fresh spinach
1 large egg
1 pound pizza dough
egg yolks, optional
1 tablespoon butter, cut into 8 small pieces, optional
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Sprinkle the paper lightly with cornmeal. Place the mozzarella cheese, feta cheese, farmer cheese, spinach and egg in a bowl and mix for a minute or so until well combined. Set aside. Cut the dough into 8 pieces. Stretch or roll each piece into a 4-inch circle. Form a higher edge around the perimeter of each circle. Spoon equal amounts of filling into the center of each circle. Place each filled circle on top of the parchment paper. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned. If desired, place an egg yolk and/or a small piece of butter on top of the filling if desired. Bake for another 5 minutes or until the pizza crust is browned.
Makes 8