Mămăligă cu Brânză și Smântână (Moldovan Polenta with Cheese and Sour Cream)
Local name: Mămăligă cu brânză și smântână
In short: Golden cornmeal porridge stirred until thick and smooth, served with crumbled brined cheese, sour cream and a drizzle of butter. It takes about 40 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 520 kcal
Mămăligă is the cornmeal porridge that stands in for bread across Moldova. It is cooked slowly in a pot until it pulls away from the sides, then turned out and cut with a string, and served with crumbled brânză (brined cheese) and a spoonful of cold sour cream. Hot and soft, salty and sour, it is a complete meal on its own, or the base for stews, sarmale or fried eggs. Constant stirring at the start is what keeps it smooth.
Instructions
- Bring the water and salt to a boil in a heavy pot, preferably cast iron or a deep, wide pan.
- Pour in the cornmeal in a thin, steady stream while whisking constantly, so no lumps form.
- Switch to a wooden spoon and lower the heat. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring often, until the mămăligă is thick and pulls away from the sides of the pot.
- Stir in the butter and let the pot stand off the heat for 5 minutes.
- Turn the mămăligă out onto a wooden board and cut it into slices with a taut piece of string, or spoon it into bowls.
- Top with crumbled cheese, sour cream and dill, and scatter over bacon bits if you like. Serve hot.
Tips
- Pour the cornmeal in slowly and whisk hard. Lumps that form at the start are nearly impossible to remove later.
- For crisp slices, let leftover mămăligă cool in a dish, cut it and fry the slices in a little oil until golden.
Questions and answers
What cornmeal should I use for mămăligă?
Use medium or coarse yellow cornmeal, which is also sold as polenta. Instant polenta cooks in 5 minutes but gives a softer, less authentic texture.
Can I make mămăligă ahead of time?
Yes. Cool it in a dish, cover and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Slice and fry or grill it, or reheat it with a splash of water.
How is mămăligă served in Moldova?
With crumbled brânză and sour cream is the classic. It is also served beside stews, sarmale, fried fish and sausages, or topped with a fried egg.
How long does it take to make Mămăligă cu Brânză și Smântână (Moldovan Polenta with Cheese and Sour Cream)?
About 40 min in total: 5 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Mămăligă cu Brânză și Smântână (Moldovan Polenta with Cheese and Sour Cream)?
About 520 kcal per serving, with 15 g of protein, 50 g of carbohydrates and 29 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 520 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 15 g |
| Carbohydrates | 50 g |
| Fat | 29 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 1150 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
