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| Paradise Bakery, California |
I know there are those of you who love a good katah (gata); I’ve posted stories and recipes for it in the past. I recently received a request for a katah (gata) with a specific filling. Here’s what reader Azam is looking for, and if any of you have a recipe that fits his request, please email it to robyn@thearmeniankitchen.com. Thank you!
In the meantime, I’ll be hunting down a recipe, too.
“Hello Robyn,
When I lived in Iran, the Armenian bakeries made this semi sweet pastry with a yellow dry filling and a golden brown top (result of generous egg wash+ ???). They used to call it Gata. It was delicious. Since I can’t go to Iran to get some Gata, I was wondering if you had the recipe or could put me in the right direction. I have googled it a bit and haven’t come across one that sounds right, specially one with that filling. I would greatly appreciate any help in this regard.”
I asked Azam for a bit more information about the filling, and this was his response:
“The filling is sweet-but not too sweet. If I have to guess, I would say it has egg yolks and some sort of starch/flour in it. It is not heavily moist or creamy at all.”
Robin,
This Nazoog. They call it Katah in Iran and Armenia.
Need the recipe?
Linda Adanalian
I found a couple of recipes that have a filling, though not with egg yolk, rather they're mixtures of butter, flour and sugar and, in one instance, vanilla with a glaze of egg yolks and yogurt. Arto der Harotunian, Patisserie of the Eastern Mediterranean (McDonald & Co. 1988, p. 68); Najimieh Batmanglij, New Food of Life (Mage Publ. 2007), p. 302-303.
Linda,
I'd love to see the recipe. Please email it to robyn@thearmeniankitchen.com. Thanks!
Anonymous,
I appreciate your input, as well.
I did find a recipe similar to the one you mentioned with the butter, flour and sugar filling, and have sent this along to Azam. The story should post soon.
Thanks so much!!
If Azam lives anywhere near LA, then he should check out the Armenian grocery stores. They all pretty much carry that type of gata (in fact, I had it the other day!).
As a matter of fact, Azam does live in CA, and may be coming your way!
I agree that it might be nazook. My local bakery sometimes labels it as "gata", even though it's more of a cookie than a bread.
just found the tastiest nazook at lili bakery in north hollywood … holla :-)!
lilit bakery, sorry!
Hello! My name is Alanna Kostegian. I live in Livonia Mi. Other than being sold at church bazaars does anybody know where I could find Katah to purchase in the Detroit metro area? Or order it online? I missed both St Sarkis and St Johns bazaars this year and am craving katah. My aunt Arpena Kostegian made some of the best I have ever had before she passed away in 2009. I would appreciate any help in finding and purchasing. Thank you in advance.
Hi Alanna, not being from your area, I’ve reached out to a woman I know from your neck of the woods who might be able to answer your question. Hopefully, I’ll hear back from her. I haven’t found a decent source for purchasing it online, but … you can always try making katah at home! I’ll continue my search, and in the meantime, wish you good luck.