Mămăligă cu Brânză și Smântână
A comforting and traditional Moldovan dish featuring creamy polenta (mămăligă) served with salty sheep's cheese (brânză) and a generous dollop of sour cream (smântână). It's a staple in Moldovan households, often served as a side dish or a light meal.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Servings4
DifficultyEasy
🧂 Ingredients
- 200 g Cornmeal (medium grind)
- 800 ml Water
- 1 tsp Salt
- 200 g Sheep's cheese (brânză de oi)(crumbled or diced)
- 150 g Sour cream (smântână)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Bring water and salt to a rolling boil in a heavy-bottomed pot.
💡 Tip: Ensure the pot is large enough to prevent boiling over. - 2
Gradually whisk in the cornmeal in a thin stream to avoid lumps.
- 3
Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, for about 25-30 minutes, or until the mămăligă is thick and pulls away from the sides of the pot.
💡 Tip: Stirring is crucial to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking. - 4
While the mămăligă is cooking, prepare the cheese and sour cream.
- 5
Serve the hot mămăligă immediately, topped with crumbled brânză and a generous dollop of smântână.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a smoother mămăligă, use fine-ground cornmeal.
- ✓If the mămăligă becomes too thick, add a little more boiling water.
- ✓Brânză can be substituted with feta cheese if sheep's cheese is unavailable, though the flavor will differ.
🔄 Variations
- Add a fried egg on top for a heartier meal.
- Incorporate finely chopped dill or parsley into the cheese mixture.