Polenta with plum jam — called „mămăligă cu licvari” in Maramureș — is a simple, nourishing traditional dessert that combines the neutral taste of cornmeal with the intense sweetness of plum jam. It was enjoyed both warm and cold, especially during fasting days.
🥣 Ingredients
- cornmeal
- water
- salt
- plum jam (licvari)
👩🍳 Preparation
Make a polenta from cornmeal, water, and salt using the traditional method, stirring continuously until it pulls away from the pot. Then place it in a bowl or on a plate, alternating a layer of polenta with a generous layer of plum jam — licvari — to taste. Serve warm or cold, plain or with a little oil on top.
📖 The story behind the recipe
This recipe comes from Băbuț Maria, 86 years old, from Vadu Izei, and is part of the collection of traditional Maramureș dishes gathered by the Maramureș Museum in Sighetu Marmației, within the Maramureș GastroEtnoArt project.
„Mămăligă cu licvari” — the local name for plum jam — is a dessert that evokes childhood in the countryside, when neither cornmeal nor thick plum jam were ever missing from the pantry.
🔍 What’s next
If you enjoyed this simple and authentic dessert, try the Fried cheese with bacon recipe, another traditional dish from the Maramureș cuisine.
Recipe credit: Maramureș Museum Sighetu Marmației – Maramureș GastroEtnoArt
Photo source: Bucătarăș.ro
