Categories: Uncategorized

A Request for Katah (Gata) with a Particular Filling

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.”


View Comments

  • 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!).

  • 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.

  • 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.

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