Mămăligă with Brânză and Smântână

Ingredients

• 4 cups water
• 1 cup coarse yellow cornmeal
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp butter
• 9 oz brânză or feta-style sheep cheese, crumbled
• 1 cup sour cream
• 4 fried eggs (optional, to serve)

Before you cook

• Measure out the cornmeal and salt so they're ready to add quickly.

Steps

1. Bring the water to a rolling boil in a heavy-bottomed pot.
2. Add the salt.
3. Sprinkle in the cornmeal in a thin, steady stream while whisking constantly to stop lumps forming.
4. Switch to a wooden spoon once the mixture thickens.
5. Reduce the heat to low and stir often for 20 minutes until the mămăligă pulls away from the sides of the pot and tastes fully cooked, not gritty.
6. Stir in the butter.
7. Turn the mămăligă out onto a board or serve it straight from the pot.
8. Top each portion with crumbled brânză and a generous dollop of sour cream.
9. Add a fried egg on top if using, and serve hot.