VEGETARIAN

Lobiani

⏳ Time

3 hours + 8 hours

🥕 Ingredients

🍽️ Servings

Description

"Lobio" in Georgian means "bean," and lobiani is similar to khachapuri but filled with beans. In some variations, bacon is also added. It’s important not to turn the beans into a mush but to leave some slightly crushed beans: this will give the filling depth and character. If you're short on time to boil the beans, you can use canned beans instead.

Ingredients

Matsoni - 8 fl oz
Chicken Egg - 1 piece
Sugar - 1 tablespoon
Wheat Flour - 14.1 oz
Dry yeast - 0.2 oz
Vegetable Oil - 3 fl oz
White Beans - 10.6 oz
Cilantro - 1.4 oz
Onion - 1 head
Garlic - 2 cloves
Butter - 4.2 oz
Khmeli-suneli - to taste
Ground Black Pepper - to taste
Salt - to taste

Step by Step guide

Step 1

Soak the beans overnight, then drain the water and cover them with fresh water, ensuring the water level is about 2 fingers above the beans. Bring to a gentle boil, cover, and cook until tender. This will take approximately 2 hours, depending on the type and size of the beans.

Step 2

Mix the flour, sugar, a teaspoon of salt, and yeast, then add an egg, 90 ml of vegetable oil, and matsoni.

Step 3

Knead the dough until it no longer sticks to your hands. Place it in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a towel, and let it sit in a warm place for about one to one and a half hours.

Step 4

In a skillet, heat vegetable oil and sauté the crushed garlic cloves (flattened with the side of a knife) for one minute. Then, remove the garlic and add finely diced onion to the skillet, cooking until it is lightly golden.

Step 5

Drain the water from the beans, leaving a little for moisture. Mash the beans with a potato masher, not worrying too much about making a completely smooth puree; it's even better if some whole beans remain. Add the hops-suneli seasoning, chopped cilantro, 50 grams of butter, sautéed onions, salt, and pepper to taste.

Step 6

Divide the dough into three equal parts and roll them into balls. Grease the work surface with oil, then flatten each ball of dough with your fingers into a small disc. Place one third of the bean filling in the center. Gather the edges of the dough towards the center and carefully, yet firmly pinch it closed. Try to avoid leaving any air inside.

Step 7

Preheat the oven to 482°F. Grease a baking sheet with vegetable oil.

Step 8

Place a filled flatbread on it and start pressing it with your hands into a flat circle, moving from the center to the edges. Make several holes in the prepared lobiani with a fork and send it to the oven for 10 minutes.