A large round flatbread-pie of thin dough filled with cheese (or potato and greens), dry-griddled on both sides and brushed with plenty of butter.
Delen (Griddled Cheese Bread)
Ingredients
Method
- Mix the flour, kefir, salt and soda into a soft dough; rest 15 minutes.
- Mix the cheese with the spring onion.
- Divide the dough; roll each piece into a round.
- Pile cheese in the centre, gather the edges over it, seal, and gently roll flat again into a large disc.
- Cook on a dry, hot pan until browned in spots, then flip and cook the other side.
- Brush generously with butter and serve hot, cut into wedges.
Roll gently after filling so it flattens without tearing and the cheese stays inside.
This is the recipe from the Recipes section of the Circassian app, where you can also scale it and save it to your favourites.
Kitchen words in Circassian
The words for what is in this dish, in Kabardian (East Circassian) and Adyghe (West Circassian), with audio from the Circassian app’s lessons and audio course.
| English | Kabardian | Adyghe |
|---|---|---|
| cheese | кхъуейqkhwey | къуаеqwae |
| butter | тхъуцынэtkhwutsyne | тхъуtkhu |
| water | псыpsy | псыpsə |
| salt | шыгъуshyghu | щыгъуshchəghu |
| food | шхынshkhyn | шхыныshkhənə |
| delicious | IэфI'ef' | IэшIу'eshIu |
| This is delicious! | Мыр IэфIщ!Myr 'ef'shch! | Мыр IэшIу!Myr 'esh'u! |
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Delen: questions
How long does it take to make Delen?
About 40 minutes, according to the recipe in the Circassian app.
How many people does this Delen recipe serve?
It serves 4. The servings control above the ingredients recalculates every quantity for 1 to 40 people.
What is Delen made of?
The ingredients are: 3 cups flour; 1 cup kefir or water; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 350 g Adyghe cheese, grated; 2 spring onions, chopped (optional); butter, to finish.
Is Delen an everyday or a festive dish?
The Circassian app files it as an everyday dish (Breads & Grains).
Where does this Delen recipe come from?
From the Recipes section of the Circassian app. The app’s recipes draw on Amjad Jaimoukha’s book Circassian Cuisine and were cross-checked against Russian and Adyghe food sources.
Sources
- Circassian app, Recipes section, recipe “Delen (Griddled Cheese Bread)” (recipe data last changed July 2026). The app’s recipes draw on Amjad Jaimoukha’s book Circassian Cuisine and were cross-checked against Russian and Adyghe food sources.
- Circassian app: audio course, Kabardian and Adyghe (the kitchen words: cheese, meat, milk, bread, tea, water, food, delicious), and the lessons’ vocabulary (chicken, salt, butter, honey).
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