Cheesy Kaçamak — Traditional Albanian Cornmeal Dish

Kaçamak is one of the oldest and most beloved dishes of Albanian cuisine — a slow-cooked cornmeal porridge served warm with cheese and butter, often for breakfast.

Ingredients (for 4 servings)

• 250 g cornmeal
• 1 liter water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 200 g white cheese, crumbled
• 50 g butter
• yogurt on the side (optional)

Preparation steps

1. Put the salted water in a pot and bring it to a boil.
2. Once the water boils, slowly add the cornmeal, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon to avoid lumps.
3. Reduce the heat to minimum and cook for 20–25 minutes, stirring continuously, until the porridge thickens and pulls away from the sides of the pot.
4. Add the crumbled cheese and butter; stir well until the cheese starts to melt.
5. Serve warm, with yogurt on the side if desired.

Prep time: 5 minutes. Cooking time: 25–30 minutes. Servings: 4.