Khachapuri

Khachapuri (Georgian: ხაჭაპური khach’ap’uri [xɑtʃʼɑpʼuri] (audio speaker iconlisten) from Georgian: ხაჭო Georgian pronunciation: [xatʃ'o] "curds" + Georgian: პური Georgian pronunciation: [p'uri] "bread") is a traditional Georgian dish of cheese-filled bread. The bread is leavened and allowed to rise, molded into various shapes, and then filled in the center with a mixture of cheese (fresh or aged, most commonly, specialized Khachapuri cheese), eggs, and other ingredients.[1] The bread crust is traditionally torn off and dipped into the cheese.

It is very popular in Georgia, both in restaurants and as street food. As a Georgian staple food, the price of making khachapuri is used as a measure of inflation in different Georgian cities by the "khachapuri index," developed by the International School of Economics at Tbilisi State University. It is Georgia's national dish that is inscribed on the list of the Intangible cultural heritage of Georgia. On the behalf and initiative of Gastronomic Association of Georgia, the 27th of February was announced as the National Khachapuri Day, to celebrate Georgia's timeless signature pastry as well as to promote its recognition internationally.