Mamaliga Porridge

[CatPat]

3 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt or to taste
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup coarse yellow cornmeal
Sour cream (optional)
Telemea or feta cheese (optional)
Fresh herbs of choice (optional)

Boil water. Add salt and butter, stir to melt. Use a wooden spoon, add the cornmeal very gradually, while stir constant in a same direction.

Simmer over low heat, stir often until thicken and start to pull away from side of pot, about 35-40 minutes. Serve hot.

NOTE: If wanted, while mamaliga is hot, add more butter, cheese, sour cream and herbs. Mamaliga can also be serve with large spoon of sour cream. Mamaliga can be poured into a pan. When cool, it can be turn out onto cutting board, cut to squares and sauteed in butter until crispy.
Also can add bacon pieces and some meats if taste.
Cat

 

[Hoot]

Sounds good!
I wonder if the cooled squares could be grilled.

 

[Addie]

Sounds good!
I wonder if the cooled squares could be grilled.

Give it a try and let us know.

 

[Lize]

My boyfriend is Romanian and when he makes mămăligă it only takes him about five minutes, so this can also be made very quick! Romanians eat mămăligă with lots of different foods.

 

[CatPat]

Yes, we do! We put diced ham and shredded cheese and bacon and all other kinds of things into it.

Your friend,
~Cat

 

[GotGarlic]

It sounds very much like polenta. Are they the same thing?

 

[CatPat]

Yes, it is. And you may put anything to it to make it different.

Your friend,
~Cat