Hutsul Banosh with Cracklings and Mushrooms

Banosh is a colorful Hutsul dish made of corn grits and served with cracklings, fried mushrooms, and onions.

Banosh is traditionally served to guests in Western Ukraine. This thick and rich porridge is cooked with milk, cream, and sour cream basis, seasoned with fragrant spices, and sprinkled with bryndza and fresh herbs.

Hutsuls claim that the dish should be stirred only with a wooden spoon and only clockwise. And the most delicious banosh is cooked in a pot on a campfire in the middle of the Carpathian Mountains.

Ingredients

• Milk - 300 ml
• Corn grits - 150 g
• Sliced button mushrooms - 150 g
• Lard - 100 g
• Sour cream - 200 g
• Bryndza - 150 g
• Onion - 1
• Salt - to taste

Directions

1. Cut the lard into small pieces and put them in a frying pan. Fry over medium heat.
2. Put the cracklings out on a plate, leaving the fat in the pan.
3. Put sliced button mushrooms in a pan, salt, and fry until semi-done.
4. Peel onion and dice it. Add to the pan with mushrooms, and fry until golden.
5. Mix sour cream with milk, add a pinch of salt and bring to a boil.
6. Wash the corn grits. Add them to milk in small portions. Stir to avoid lumps.
7. Reduce heat and cook the porridge for 10-20 minutes until thickened.
8. Dish the cooked porridge, and add cracklings, mushrooms, and onions. Top with slices of cheese. Serve.
9. Enjoy!