Georgia About

Lobiani (Georgian: ლობიანი) is enjoyed all year round and especially on the Georgian holiday of Barbaroba, or St. Barbara’s Day (December 17). In this recipe we will show how to make Ajarian lobiani, which uses the traditional oval boat shape of Ajarian Khachapuri.

Ingredients for the dough (to make 4 Ajarian lobiani): 1 kilo of flour, 300 ml of water or milk, 1 egg, 1 heaped tbs of yeast, 1 tsp of sugar, 1 tsp of salt.

Ingredients for the lobio filling (to make 4 Ajarian lobiani): 600 grams of lobio (kidney beans), 100 grams of butter, 3-4 bay leaves, and salt (amount dependent upon personal preference).

Preparation (dough): There are several recipes for making the dough but we find the following method to be the easiest way to prepare it.

Add 700 grams of flour to a mixing bowl. Make a hollow in the middle and add the egg, yeast, sugar and salt.

Warm 300 ml of water or milk to 35 C and slowly add to the middle of the bowl. Mix by hand, working from the outside inwards.

Use your hands to make a ball shape. Cover the bowl with cling film and leave in a warm place for at least 2 hours for the dough to rise.

Preparation (lobio): Soak the beans in a deep cooking pot of cold water for two hours prior to cooking. Drain water and add the bay leaves and up to 2 liters of fresh water.

Cook on a medium heat until the beans are tender. Pour out all of the water.

Remove the cooked beans from the pot and add them, together with salt (taste to see if necessary) and 100 grams of butter to a mixing bowl.

Thoroughly mix the beans and butter until it has the consistency of mashed potato.

Sprinkle flour onto a preparation area and knead the dough before using. Leave for 10 minutes.

Separate the dough into 4 pieces and use your hands to mold each piece into a circular shape.

Roll out each piece and then use your hands to create a flattish oval shape.

Spread a quarter of lobio filling onto the middle of each piece of dough.

Fold the sides and ends of each piece of dough, like in the picture below.

Lightly dust a baking tray with flour (to stop the dough sticking) and put the Ajarian Lobiani in a pre-heated hot oven for about 12 minutes at a high temperature.

Serving: Serve hot. Each Ajarian Lobiani is one serving. We served ours with marinated hot peppers. Delicious!

Enjoy your Ajarian Lobiani!

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