This pumpkin-filled flatbread comes from the Kavkazi Jewish community; sometimes known as Mountain Jews, they live between the Black and Caspian Seas. Alona Eisenberg has worked diligently to document recipes from her community. “I collect knowledge about this cuisine from everyone who agrees to sit with me,” Alona says.
The pumpkin and walnut filling is unique, and can be made dairy-free, parve and vegan when omitting the butter.
Other fillings include:
Ground beef or lamb with various chopped green herbs (This version is done with no top dough round, just the bottom dough round and the meat mixture on top, like pizza or lahmajun): 1 ¾ pounds ground beef or lamb, ¼ bunch chopped cilantro, 1 grated plum tomato, kosher salt and pepper, to taste. Mix the filling ingredients and divide between each thinly rolled dough half, leaving a wide 2- to 2 ½-inch rim. Fold the edges up over the filling as you would a galette, to keep the juices in.
Mixed greens: 1 package fresh spinach, 1 bunch celery leaves, ¼ bunch each of parsley, cilantro, dill and mint. Chop the greens and herbs, mix, and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper for a parve version, or with ⅔ pound Tvoro cheese or Bulgarian feta for the dairy version. Roll and fill the dough as directed.
This recipe was shared by Alona Eisenberg. Read more about her family in "Finding a Route to the Kavkaz Mountains in the Kitchen" and try her recipes for pasta with walnut sauce and beef filled dumplings.