Mămăligă Cu Brânză

Creamy polenta layered with salty cheese and cool sour cream, deeply comforting and richly Romanian.

Mămăligă Cu Brânză

Ingredients

  • 180 g Cornmeal
  • 700 ml Water
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 20 g Butter
  • 150 g Telemea
  • 120 g Sour Cream
  • 1 tbsp Parsley

Method

  1. Bring {water} to a steady boil in a medium heavy pot over medium-high heat, then add {salt} and {butter} so the base is seasoned before the {cornmeal} goes in.
  2. Rain in {cornmeal} while whisking constantly to prevent lumps, then reduce to low heat and stir with a wooden spoon until thick, glossy, and pulling from the sides of the pot; taste and adjust with more {salt} if needed.
  3. Crumble {telemea} and spoon {sour_cream} into a serving bowl so both are ready while the {cornmeal} is still hot and soft.
  4. Spoon the hot {cornmeal} into warm bowls, layer with {telemea}, add generous dollops of {sour_cream}, and finish with {parsley} for fresh contrast. Serve at once while the texture is silky.