Moldovan cuisine

Mămăligă (Moldovan cornmeal)

Thick cornmeal porridge cut with a thread, served with tocăniță meat stew or cheese.

Well-cooked hot dish

Mămăligă (Moldovan cornmeal) — Moldovan cuisine. Photograph of the dish.

Ingredients

cornmeal
water
salt
butter
pasteurised cheese or meat stew

How it is prepared

Cornmeal is stirred into boiling water for 20–30 minutes and turned out onto a board.

Food safety with low immunity

Soft, mould-ripened and market cheeses may be unpasteurised. Choose packaged cheese labelled pasteurised, or use cheese melted in a hot dish.
Use only pasteurised milk, yoghurt, cream and cheese.

How to prepare it during treatment

The polenta itself is a safe, soft food. Choose pasteurised cheese over market brânză and melt it into the hot polenta; any stew must be fully cooked.

Your diet during treatment is agreed with your doctor. Sample 7-day menu for the treatment period →

Storage

Cook it fresh. Refrigerate leftovers within an hour and eat within a day.

Reheating

Add a little milk or water and bring to the boil.

Symptoms it may suit

Nausea. Mild and not too greasy; can be eaten in small portions, warm or at room temperature.
Diarrhoea. In a low-fat, gentle version it may be better tolerated with diarrhoea.
Low appetite. Gives a lot of energy and protein in a small portion — can help when appetite is low.

These are general observations: what suits you can change from day to day.

Treatment phases

Before treatmentmay suit
During a coursemay suit
Low counts (neutropenia)Freshly cooked and hotmay suit
Between coursesmay suit
After treatmentmay suit

Phase notes are general. During low counts, follow only your care team’s food rules.

If you have other conditions

Diabetes. Rich in carbohydrates (rice, potato, dough). With diabetes, discuss portion size and blood sugar with your team.
Stomach and gut. Contains dairy. With lactose intolerance or bowel problems, discuss suitability with your team.
High blood pressure, Heart disease, Kidney disease. Often salty (stock, salty cheese, sausage, pickles). With high blood pressure, heart or kidney disease, discuss salt limits with your team.

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Nutrition figures from a reliable source have not been added for this dish yet.

More from this cuisine

Moldova: food database → · Country page →

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Safer Food Choices for People With Weakened Immune Systems
FoodSafety.gov (U.S. HHS). Cook to a Safe Minimum Internal Temperature
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Leftovers and Food Safety
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Food Safety for Older Adults and People with Cancer, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Organ Transplants, and Autoimmune Diseases
Food Standards Agency (UK). Chilling
World Health Organization (WHO). Five keys to safer food manual
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Food Safety During Cancer Treatment
National Cancer Institute (NCI). Eating Hints: Before, during, and after Cancer Treatment
BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 2019. Neutropenic diets to prevent cancer infections: updated systematic review and meta-analysis
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). FoodData Central — Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS)

Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.

Open the interactive site →