Cookbook:Ukrainian Cornmeal Stuffing (Nachynka)

| Ukrainian Cuisine | Side Dishes

Nachynka in Ukrainian literally means stuffing. This dish is usually not stuffed inside anything, but served as a side dish.

Ingredients

 * ½ cup (125 g / 4.4 oz) butter
 * 1 cup (140 g / 4.9 oz) cornmeal
 * 3 cups (750 ml / 1.6 pints) homogenized milk
 * 2 large eggs
 * 1 tsp salt
 * ½ tsp sugar
 * 1 tsp baking powder
 * Butter

Procedure

 * 1) Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
 * 2) Melt butter in a pot on medium heat.
 * 3) Add cornmeal. Stir mixture to warm up the cornmeal.
 * 4) Add milk. Stir until mixture has thickened.
 * 5) Beat eggs. Beat in salt, sugar, and baking powder.
 * 6) Slowly add some of the thickened cornmeal mixture to the egg mixture while mixing to temper the eggs.
 * 7) Stir the egg mixture into the rest of the cornmeal.
 * 8) Pour the mixture into a greased casserole dish.
 * 9) Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30–40 minutes or until the top has browned.

Notes, tips, and variations

 * While you are thickening the cornmeal mixture, you have enough time to beat the eggs.
 * Doubling the recipe will yield enough to fill a 2 litre casserole dish.
 * For different flavour variations:
 * Mix in a ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon.
 * Chop up a small onion and cook till tender in the butter, before adding cornmeal.

Warnings

 * Do not add the egg mixture to the cornmeal. Some of the eggs will cook on impact resulting in streaks of cooked eggs and a heavier Nachynka.