Main Course📍 MoldaviaEasy🌾 Gluten-free🥩 Low-carb / Keto💪 High-protein

Romanian shepherd's balmos

Name: Romanian shepherd's balmos
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 300 g fine cornmeal; 700 ml whole milk; 250 ml water; 200 g full-fat sour cream; 120 g butter; 1 tsp salt; 250 g burduf cheese; 150 g sheep telemea; 100 g fresh curd cheese (optional); extra sour cream, to taste; fried eggs or cracklings (optional); hot pepper or pickles

Balmos is a Moldavian shepherd-style dish: a rich polenta cooked in milk and sour cream, with butter and plenty of cheese. Its texture is creamy, hearty, and very filling, perfect for cold days or rustic family meals.

🍽️

Servings

⏱️

Prep

10 min

🔥

Cook

25 min

⏰

Total

35 min

🥘Ingredients

servings

Balmos base

Cheeses

Serving

📝Preparation steps 🗓️Add to Meal Planner🎨Serving & Presentation

✅Dietary Compatibility

🌾Gluten-free🥩Low-carb / Keto💪High-protein

🍽️

Yield

1 large pot (6 servings)

📦Storage

❄️

Refrigerator

Up to 2 days refrigerated in a sealed container

🧊

Freezer

Not recommended (texture changes)

🥗Nutrition Facts

Values per serving (approx. 350 g)

🔥

Calories

560 kcal

🥩

Protein

18 g

🧈

Fat

38 g

🍞

Carbohydrates

36 g

🌾

Fiber

2 g

🍷Pairs Well With

🥂Fried eggs

🥂Crispy cracklings

🥂Garlic sauce

🥂Pickles

💡Variations

Smoked-curd balmos: replace 80 g telemea with smoked curd for deeper flavor.

Lighter balmos: reduce butter to 80 g and increase milk by 100 ml.

Herb balmos: add chopped dill at the end for freshness.

🎪Events Celebrating This Dish

🎉

Balmos Festival