Smočani kačamak

This traditional Montenegrin dish is a local take on kačamak—a thick maize porridge that is found in Turkish and Balkan cuisine. Smočani kačamak is prepared by cooking potatoes together with wheat or corn flour and then mashing the combination until it becomes thick and homogenous. Traditionally, the potatoes and flour are mashed with a large wooden stick (tučak). The dish is finished off with the addition of kajmak—a dairy product similar to clotted cream—and cheese, preferably local Montenegrin varieties such as pljevaljski or lisnati (bucani) cheese. All ingredients should be thoroughly mixed until the dish attains its desired soft and creamy consistency. Once considered a frugal meal that was only found in rural areas, smočani kačamak has become a hallmark dish and an integral part of Montenegrin cuisine. It is usually served with yogurt or sour milk on the side.