Mrkopaljski podmetaš

Podmetaš is a traditional dish originating from the Croatian municipality of Mrkopalj. It is made by combining cornflour with cooked sour cabbage and water. The combination is then cooked until the cornflour is thoroughly combined with the cabbage and the mixture becomes thick. If desired, podmetaš can be drizzled over with a combination of oil and garlic, or topped with a combination of pork rinds and garlic. When served, podmetaš is typically accompanied by sausages. There is also a local legend regarding the invention of podmetaš – one snowy night, a rich man came into a local house with his friends in order to find protection from the snow. The cook only had cabbage and sausages available, but that was not enough to feed so many people. She had an idea to put the cornflour into the cabbage, so she did that, and added pork rinds, garlic, and sausages to the dish. The dish was an instant success, and that is supposedly how podmetaš was invented.