Georgian Cheese Bread Recipe - Acharuli Khachapuri

To Make Dough - Gather the ingredients.

To Make Dough - In a small bowl, combine warm water with yeast and set aside.

To Make Dough - In a large bowl or stand mixer, mix together flour with milk, oil, egg, sugar, salt, and yeast-water mixture. Knead by hand or with a dough hook until dough forms a smooth, elastic dough. (You may need up to 1 cup additional warm water.)

To Make Dough - Cover bowl with greased plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 2 hours.

To Make Dough - Punch down dough and divide into three pieces. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rest 15 minutes before shaping.

To Make the Cheese Filling - Gather the ingredients.

To Make the Cheese Filling - In a medium bowl, combine grated cheese, 1 egg, and butter, if using. Separate one egg, retaining egg yolk and saving white for another use. Fork blend egg yolk and set aside.

To Assemble the Acharuli Khachapuri - Heat oven to 400 F. Roll each of the dough balls and form into a boat shape.

To Assemble the Acharuli Khachapuri - Place equal portions of cheese filling in center of each of the 3 dough boats. Fold sides and ends of dough as shown in picture.

To Assemble the Acharuli Khachapuri - Place khachapuri on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet (to catch any butter or melting cheese) and bake for 12 minutes.

To Assemble the Acharuli Khachapuri - Take khachapuri out of oven and brush dough (not cheese) with reserved beaten egg yolk. Crack last egg in the center of cheese.

To Assemble the Acharuli Khachapuri - Return to oven and bake for 3 minutes or until the yolk is still wobbly and white hasn't totally set. Serve immediately with a large pat of butter.