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    Where Is My Spoon > Recipes > Romanian > Romanian Mains

    Polenta Cheese Balls

    Last modified: Jul 3, 2024 ยท Published by Adina, Jun 7, 2020 ยท 17 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    pinterest image with title polenta and cheese balls.

    Polenta cheese balls with feta and sausages are soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. Baked in the oven and served with sour cream, Greek yogurt, or tomato sauce.

    baked polenta cheese balls in a casserole dish close up

    These polenta balls with cheese are another twist on the basic polenta. This time, you will mix it with feta cheese and chopped sausages, form some little balls, and bake them. Your kids will love them! At least mine did. They were all over them, and they ate them not only warm but cold as well.

    Make Polenta Souffle or Mushroom Polenta Casserole next.

    Jump to recipe
    • Alternative fillings
    • Tips
    • How to make polenta balls?
    • How to serve?
    • More polenta recipes
    • Recipe
    • Polenta Cheese Balls

    Alternative fillings

    These balls are not only delicious but quite versatile as well.

    • I added sausages because that is what almost any Romanian would probably do, but if you want to keep the balls vegetarian โ€“ please do! Leave out the sausages and add more cheese.
    • If you have some leftover frozen sausages, you can use those. And you can also learn How to Cook Frozen Sausages.
    • You could even add finely chopped olives or green onions as well if you like. I do! Especially the olives. ๐Ÿ™‚
    • It's not very Romanian, but for sure, it would be delicious to have some sun-dried tomatoes or some anchovies.
    • Feta cheese can also be substituted: Gouda, cheddar, or any strong-tasting cheese would be great.

    Tips

    Be generous with the spices, especially with the salt; I think anything made with polenta requires more salt than you would think.

    However, depending on how salty the feta cheese is and how spicy the sausages are, you might need to adjust the salt accordingly. Taste and add salt until you reach the desired taste.

    How to make polenta balls?

    • Cook a basic polenta - mamaliga.
    • Remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes, but no longer as it will set too much.
    • Preheat the oven to 220 degrees Celsius/ 430 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Mix the polenta with finely chopped or crumbled sausages and crumbled feta cheese.
    • Add the lightly beaten egg, dill, salt, and pepper.
    • Make about 30 balls about the size of a golf ball.
    • Wet your hands after every 3 or 4 balls; it makes things easier.
    • Place in a buttered casserole dish and sprinkle with a little bit of the grated cheese.
    • Place a tiny amount of butter on each ball.
    • Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden.

    How to serve?

    • Serve immediately with crรจme fraiche/ sour cream/ Greek yogurt and a green salad.
    • Or you can serve them with spicy marinara sauce, my daughter's favorite version.
    • The polenta balls are best served immediately and hot.
    • If you have leftovers you can eat them cold or reheat them in the oven for about 10 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius/ 350 degrees Fahrenheit or until heated through. They might be a bit drier on the outside though after reheating, so make sure you serve them with plenty of yogurt or sauce.
    cornmeal balls with sausages and cheese in a blue baking dish

    More polenta recipes

    • creamy polenta chicken in a square vintage serving dish with silver spoon and fork on the side.
      Chicken and Polenta
    • cornmeal cake with orange juice in the back.
      The Best Polenta Orange Cake
    • polenta pizza topped with pepperoni, olives, tomatoes, and feta.
      Polenta Pizza (with Various Toppings)
    • slice of polenta al forno with spinach on a plate.
      Italian Polenta and Spinach Bake (Polenta al forno)

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    Recipe

    many polenta cheese balls with sausage in a small baking dish sprinkled with cheese.

    Polenta Cheese Balls

    These polenta balls with feta cheese and sausages are soft on the inside and crispy outside. Baked in the oven and served with sour cream, Greek yogurt, or tomato sauce.
    5 from 2 votes
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    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Romanian
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 30 balls
    Calories: 66kcal
    Author: Adina
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    Ingredients 

    • 1 โ…” cup coarse or medium cornmeal 250 g, Note 1
    • 4 ยผ cups water 1 liter
    • 1 ยฝ teaspoons fine salt
    • 10.5 oz fresh sausages of your liking 300 g
    • 5.5 oz feta cheese 150 g, Note 2
    • 1 egg
    • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
    • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt to taste
    • freshly ground black pepper
    • 1 small handful grated cheese Gouda or cheddar
    • 1 teaspoon butter
    • crรจme fraiche/ sour cream/ Greek yogurt/ tomato sauce to serve

    Instructions

    Polenta:

    • Heat the water in a large pot but don't let it come to a boil (it helps against the formation of lumps). Add the salt. Slowly add the cornmeal while stirring or whisking (with an egg beater, not a mixer) all the time.
    • A word of caution - be careful when the polenta starts to bubble; if the bubbles are too large, you might get burned โ€“ so turn the heat down if that happens. When all the cornmeal is incorporated, continue stirring or whisking shortly to ensure no lumps. Turn the heat down, place a lid on top but leave a crack open.
    • Stir every 3 minutes or so. Read the cooking instructions on the polenta packet to know how long the cornmeal needs to be cooked. For example, I cook the polenta made with coarse cornmeal for 40 to 50 minutes and the polenta made with medium cornmeal for about 15 minutes.

    Polenta balls:

    • Preheat the oven to 220 degrees Celsius/ 430 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Combine ingredients: Remove the casings from the sausages. Mix the polenta with the finely chopped or crumbled sausages and the crumbled feta cheese. Add the lightly beaten egg, dill, salt to taste, and pepper.
    • Make about 30 balls about the size of a golf ball. Wet your hands after every 3 or 4 balls. Place the balls into a buttered casserole dish and sprinkle each ball with a little bit of the grated cheese. Place a tiny amount of butter on each ball.
    • Bake for about 20 minutes in the hot oven or until golden. Serve immediately with crรจme Fraiche/ sour cream/ Greek yogurt/ tomato sauce and a green salad.

    Notes

    1. Read the cooking instructions on the polenta packet to know how long the cornmeal needs to be cooked. For example, I cook the polenta made with coarse cornmeal for 40 to 50 minutes and the polenta made with medium cornmeal for about 15 minutes.
    2. Or Romanian telemea, if available.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1polenta balls without side dish | Calories: 66kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 317mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @adinabeck or tag #WhereIsMySpoon!

    More Traditional Romanian Main Dishes

    • hungarian cabbage and noodles in a large Dutch oven.
      Hungarian Cabbage and Noodles - Haluski
    • slow-roasted turkey breast sliced on a platter and sourrouded by rosemary sprigs.
      Slow-Roasted Turkey Breast
    • eggplant chicken stew served over polenta in a brown bowl with a spoon.
      Warming Eggplant Chicken Recipe
    • savory rhubarb soup in a vintage bowl.
      Tangy Rhubarb Soup

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. mjskitchen says

      June 07, 2020 at 10:07 pm

      These look absolutely delicious! Bobby and I are huge polenta fans so these are a must try. I see so many possible ingredients.

      Reply
    2. Lisa says

      October 01, 2018 at 5:27 am

      I saw these on a you tube video of Romanian food. They look so go. They were served with a dipping sauce that was supposed to be really garlicky. Do you have a recipe? They also had this awesome dish they were calling a Romanian pancake. It looked like a thin stuffed pizza made in a skillet it also had bacon in it.
      I was wishing I had a friend who could tell me about these yummy looking dishes. So glad I found you blog. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Adina says

        October 02, 2018 at 10:23 am

        Hi Lisa. Send me a link of this video. If the garlic sauce is clear, it is just grated garlic, water and salt. If not, it is probably made with sour cream instead of water. Lots of garlic, at least 5 thick cloves. I usually use more.the Romanian Pancake could be placinta. I have 2 recipes here, one with cheese, one with cabbage.

        Reply
    3. Marvellina Goh says

      January 26, 2017 at 12:52 am

      You are seriously rolling with all the polenta series! Love it! From sweet to savory!!! I have to admit I don't make much of polenta myself because I'm not sure what else I can make with it besides the polenta porridge, but you just gave me plenty of ideas here!!

      Reply
    4. Monica says

      January 25, 2017 at 11:36 pm

      This is a great idea and looks very tasty! I was experimenting with polenta a couple of years back...I got as far as polenta "fries" but didn't think of possibilities like this! : )

      Reply
    5. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

      January 25, 2017 at 9:14 pm

      I've pinned your recipe, the polenta balls sound absolutely delicious.

      Reply
    6. Nicoletta @sugarlovespices says

      January 25, 2017 at 6:45 pm

      You are so right, polenta is so versatile and here you can play with endless possibilities, vegetarian and not. I would stick with the vegetarian option, but my husband and step son would love your version with sausages!

      Reply
    7. Gingi Freeman says

      January 25, 2017 at 5:27 pm

      Now THESE look marvelous! Would love to serve something like this as an appetizer at a future gathering! <3 - http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com

      Reply
    8. Sissi says

      January 25, 2017 at 1:42 pm

      I love your series of dishes with the same ingredient! I see you're in a polenta cooking period.... The balls look very original and cute.

      Reply
    9. Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says

      January 25, 2017 at 1:39 pm

      These look delicious and love the addition of sausage. These would make a perfect meal for Friday or Saturday night. Bet they would be delicious with tomato sauce too!

      Reply
    10. mjskitchen says

      January 25, 2017 at 4:13 am

      What a fantastic collection of polenta recipes but I have to admit that this one is my favorite. Just made a batch of chorizo which would be a great sausage to use here. These are super fabulous!!! Thanks for all of these great recipes!

      Reply
    11. Balvinder says

      January 24, 2017 at 4:18 pm

      All of your recipes with polenta are really good. These cheese balls are great to get the party going. What can I substitute sausages for?

      Reply
      • Adina says

        January 24, 2017 at 8:33 pm

        Lots of things, Balvinder: olives, green onions, sun-dried tomatoes, more cheese, roasted peppers and so on.

        Reply
      • JiL says

        July 30, 2021 at 1:34 am

        @Adina, I do them with mushrooms and bacon

        Reply
        • Adina says

          July 30, 2021 at 7:22 am

          Sounds delicious. I must try!

    12. Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says

      January 24, 2017 at 2:09 pm

      I think these polenta balls would be a hit in my house too! Cheesy and creamy and easy to just pop in your mouth! I love it!

      Reply
      • Adina says

        January 24, 2017 at 8:32 pm

        Thank you, Kathy.

        Reply
    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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