Georgian Cheese Bread

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Sprinkle yeast over warm water and stir in 1 tablespoon flour. Let stand until creamy, about 5 minutes. (If yeast does not activate, start over with new yeast.)

   Step 2

   Stir together salt and remaining flour in a large bowl, then stir in egg and yeast mixture to form a dough.

   Step 3

   Turn out dough onto a well-floured surface and turn to coat with flour, then knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Form into a ball and dust with flour. Let dough rest in a bowl, covered with plastic wrap, punching down with a wet fist every hour, at least 2 hours and up to 3.

   Step 4

   Preheat oven to 500°F with rack in middle.

   Step 5

   Turn out dough onto floured pizza pan, turning to coat, then flatten with your fingers into a 7-inch disk.

   Step 6

   Toss together cheeses and press into a compact 3-inch ball with your hands. Place ball in middle of dough, then gather dough up around ball of cheese, squeezing excess dough into a topknot. Press down on topknot with a damp fist to press cheese out from center. Continue to flatten dough and distribute cheese evenly, pressing outward from center, until dough is an 11-inch disk.

   Step 7

   Cut a 6-inch X through top of dough to expose cheese. Bake until pale golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Brush surface of dough with butter and bake until golden and cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes more.

   Step 8

   Serve cut into wedges.