Have you ever tasted Tzarevna’s khachapuri or a khachapuri before? The name may be unusual, but the flavor is surely delicious. A unique name with a sumptuous taste! The khachapuri looks like a boat filled with gooey cheese and a runny egg yolk on top. Khachapuri is also referred by New Yorkers as a cheese boat.
What is a Khachapuri?
Khachapuri, as Wikipedia defines it is a traditional Georgian dish of cheese-filled bread. The bread is leavened and allowed to rise and is shaped in various ways. It is usually with cheese in the middle and a crust that is ripped off and used to dip in the cheese. The filling contains cheese, eggs, and other ingredients.
The tradition of the authentic Georgian Khachapuri pastries was given the status of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Georgia, on January 22, 2019. It is very famous in Georgia both in restaurants and street foods. It has become a staple food too, making it a national Georgian dish. The oblong delight is thought to have begun by the Adjarians in southwestern Georgia, but despite when this genius combination of cheese, bread, and egg emerged, its appeal is evident and the recipe relatively simple.
The dough contains yeast and is formed into a football shape with edges folded over. Having all those combinations of creamy, fresh and sharply aged cheeses plus one egg gives a cheese boat like effect. Khachapuri is the representation of the boat, sea, and sun.
FUN FACT: There are numerous legends associated with Khachapuri in Georgia. Italian missionaries also used to record Khachapuri and express its flavor and characteristics. The earlier roots also specify a utensil in which Khachapuri was baked. Though researchers did not find the explanation when the first Khachapuri was made, yet they are convinced that this perfect structure of cheese and dough has its origins in ancient times and its birthplace is Georgia, even though the dishes similar to Khachapuri are also served in nearby countries.
There are also several distinct types of Khachapuri like Imeretian. This is the most popular and is made with white Imeretian cheese. Another one is Ossetian, which has potato, as well as cheese in its filling. It is commonly called Khabizgini. Gurian is another one that has boiled eggs inside the dough and looks like a calzone.
But Khachapuri has its home apart from Georgia. One of the well-known recipes is also found elsewhere. The good news is, getting one’s hand on a well handcrafted and baked Khachapuri does not require you to go on a trip to Georgia. But do you know where you can find one? The best is found in Tzaverna, home of the best Khachapuri in NYC.
What makes Tzarevna’s Khachapuri one of the best in NYC?
We bake our Khachapuri until golden brown, its cheese is excellent and oozy, and the egg is just cooked through but runny. The secret is using the finest cheese, the finest ingredients, the process and the passion that we have to serve the best to our customers. Tzarevna’s khachapuri is a rich bread turned into a cheese boat, undeniably delicious and perfect! It is going to be worth your visit, and you will surely come back to taste its goodness over and over again. This will be a delightful treat to yourself!
Come and visit Tzaverna in New York and get a taste of our Khachapuri, baked to satisfy your tastebuds!
