This Georgian Staple is Super Tasty and Helps Track Inflation
Khachapuri is not only a deliciously cheesy dish but a helpful economic marker, too.
You won’t be in Georgia long before you encounter the mouth-watering aroma of khachapuri wafting from restaurants, street-food stalls and bakeries. The best way to eat it? Tear off chunks of the warm bread and dip them in the cheesy centre.
National Treasure
Not only is khachapuri the national dish of Georgia, a country located where Europe meets Asia, it was also granted cultural heritage status by the government in 2019.
Local Twists
Regional variations abound: In Imereti, along the Rioni River, khachapuri is filled with a white salted cheese named after the region; in Adjara, on the Black Sea coast, it’s topped with a n egg and lots of butter. The taste ranges from tangy to garlicky, depending on the recipe.
Related: How to Eat Calçots Like a Catalonian
The Khachapuri Index
The price of making khachapuri – ingredients (flour, cheese, milk, eggs) plus gas and electricity costs – is used as an unofficial benchmark for measuring inflation of goods and services in Georgia.
Doughy Diaspora
Khachapuri is becoming an increasingly popular brunch food in Israel, where it was brought over by Georgian Jews, and in areas with large Georgian communities, including New York.