Khachapuri Falling Star And Put It In Your Pocket

NATIONAL DISH OF GEORGIA - Khachapuri

Guess what is my favourite time of year? Christmas? (not even), My birthday? (no, although it should be made a national holiday!), Australian Open? (tennis and alcohol does come close). Give up?
IT'S EUROVISION TIME!!

Every May I invite the beloved riff raff that are my friends to join me in shameless celebration of the greatest, tacky and fabulous performers that Europe has to offer. Now I love to throw a good shindig, and Eurovision is my party of the year! As Molefaces, we could not simply come together and just watch the show. What's complicated about that? So instead I assign each person a country that made the final and ask that they cook a dish that represents that country. In the past we've had Swedish Meatballs (Lady Lara's are better than IKEA), Spainsh Flan (don't put it in the oven Sarah, oops too late!) and German Strudel (want a whipped cream facial Leah?). Then amidst performance watching, coupled with drinking games and Country sweep, we gorge the only way we know how, like Fat Diabetic Whores!

The first year I picked Georgia, and I came across this marvelous dish: Khacapuri. And what's not to love about it? I mean bread: good!, cheese: good! So you can imagine my euphoria when I noticed it was the Georgian national dish. AWES! The recipe was slightly different from what I remember (different cheeses), but the end result was still the same: EXCELLENT!
 
Enjoy, or as they say in Georgia, გემრიელად მიირთვი!  (gemrielad miirthvi)



A link to some resplendent cheese times: http://www.gourmet.com/recipes/2000s/2008/05/cheesebread

Difficulty:       4 

Appearance:  4 

Taste:             4 

TOTAL:         12

Although in the video it may look like there are a lot of processes, there is deceptively not many. Basically make the dough, grate the cheese and stuff it into a ball, wrap the dough around, flatten it and bake. This was my first experience with active yeast, and I got to say, it is one of the most pungently vile smells I have ever experienced! I feel sorry for all those who have had yeast infections.

This bad experience was modified by the beautiful taste and aroma of the finished product. And the leftover herb butter I brushed on top added some delicious flavours. Although the Khacapuri was a little oily, it was CHEESEALICIOUS! Next time I may use different cheeses, and add some herbs, but other than that Khacapuri was perfection.

(And for those playing at home, Georgia haven't had the best run in Eurovision. Debuting in 2007, their best result is 9th in the final (2010). Don't worry, there's always next year Georgia!)