Albanian Bread Stuffed with Cheese or Pogaça me Djathë is a fluffy Albanian soft bread, similar in style and texture to pizza or focaccia bread stuffed with cheese. Every country or region, has its own version of pogaça, with different flavor and texture. The ingredients for this delicious bread are flour ( white or wheat), yeast, oil, eggs and milk. Many ingredients can be added to the dough, or even sprinkled on top, before baking the dough.
Mix provolone and feta cheese together in a small bowl. Divide it in two parts, with one part of cheese form a ball by pressing together the mixed cheeses. The remaining cheese will be used for sprinkling on the top of pogaça.
In a large bowl mix together dry ingredients: flour, salt, yeast and sugar.
Whisk the milk with egg and oil and pour the mixture into the dry ingredients bowl.
Mix all ingredients with spatula, until it comes together and is well incorporated. Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap. Allow the dough to rest for 30-40 minutes, or until it doubles in size.
Transfer the dough into a lightly floured surface and knead for few minutes. Using a pin flatten it down, into round shape 1/2 inch thick. Place the cheese ball filling in the middle. Cover the cheese ball with the flatten dough all around it. By pinching with fingers forming a sack. First press down the dough with your hand, than using a pin roll out the Pogaça into a round shape sheet 1/2 inch thick.
Place the dough in the the baking pan pre brushed with oil.
With a pastry brush, coat the top with egg yolk wash and sprinkle with remaining mixed cheese.
With a knife make a deep cuts into the dough, forming slices.
Sprinkle sesame, poppy or black cumin seeds on the top.
Bake pogaça at 360 Fahrenheit until the top turns golden brown, around 25 minutes.
Serve warm.
Serving Size 1
Servings 0
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.