Site Overlay

BAKED LAYERED MĂMĂLIGUȚĂ WITH CHEESE AND SMOKY BACON – COMFORT FOOD PERFECTION

By Delicious Recipes!Posted on
BAKED LAYERED MĂMĂLIGUȚĂ WITH CHEESE AND SMOKY BACON – COMFORT FOOD PERFECTION

BAKED LAYERED MĂMĂLIGUȚĂ WITH CHEESE AND SMOKY BACON – COMFORT FOOD PERFECTION

What could be more comforting for a weekend dinner or breakfast than this layered baked mămăliguță with cheese? Rich, smoky, and creamy, it’s a true crowd-pleaser.

🕒 Prep Time: 20 min

🍳 Cook Time: 15 min baking + stovetop prep
🍰 Yields: 4 servings

🥄 Ingredients

Cheese and Meat Layers:

  • 500 g burduf cheese (Romanian salty sheep cheese)
  • 1 thick slice smoked bacon (slanina), diced
  • 150 g assorted smoked meats (kaizer, pork belly, bacon, smoked sausages), diced or sliced
  • Telemea cheese (optional, for garnish)

Mămăliguță:

  • 1 1/2 cups cornmeal
  • 4 1/2 cups water
  • 1 tsp salt

👩‍🍳 Instructions

  1. 🍲 In a pot, combine cold water, cornmeal, and salt. Stir well and cook over medium heat for 5–7 minutes, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon. Mămăliguță is ready when soft and easily pulls away from the pot edges.
  2. 🥓 Dice the bacon and fry in a small pan over low heat until it releases plenty of fat and becomes crispy.
  3. 🥩 In a separate pan, cook the smoked meats over low heat until crispy.
  4. 🧈 Generously grease a large ovenproof dish with bacon fat.
  5. 🥄 Spread a layer of mămăliguță on the bottom of the dish. Drizzle some bacon fat over it and, if desired, sprinkle crispy bacon pieces and smoked meat on top.
  6. 🧀 Add a generous layer of burduf cheese over the meats. Repeat layering mămăliguță brushed with fat, bacon and smoked meat, and cheese until the dish is filled. The top layer should be mămăliguță brushed with fat.
  • Note: You can prepare this in individual ovenproof dishes or a large baking dish like a Pyrex.
  1. 🔥 Bake at 200°C (390°F) for 15 minutes until heated through and the top is slightly golden.
  2. 🧀 Serve hot, sprinkled with grated telemea cheese and drizzled with sour cream. For a beautiful presentation, invert individual portions onto plates and grate telemea cheese on top.

💡 Tips

  • Use plenty of bacon fat to enrich the layers and add flavor.
  • Adjust smoked meat varieties to your preference.
  • Serving inverted portions adds an elegant touch.

🎉 Perfect For

  • Hearty weekend breakfasts or dinners
  • Traditional Romanian family meals
  • Comforting dishes with smoky, cheesy layers

📝 Final Thoughts

This baked layered mămăliguță combines creamy cheese, smoky bacon, and rich smoked meats in a warm, satisfying dish. Its rustic charm and delicious flavor make it an ideal comfort food that’s easy to prepare and share.