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Cheesy Cornbread Squares with Sour Cream served golden brown
Delicious and light Proja with sour cream

Cheesy Cornbread Squares with Sour Cream (Proja)

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Vegetarian & Vegan Dishes Quick Meals
Proja is the Balkans' answer to cornbread, though this version is wheat-heavy, resembling a savory cake. Sour cream and cheese enrich the batter, keeping it moist and soft for days. Once a simple peasant dish, it's now a beloved party snack.
🕒 Prep Time 15 mins
🍳 Cook Time 30 mins
⌛ Total Time 45 mins
🍽️ Servings 6 servings
🔥 Calories 320 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Serbian / Hungarian

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Baking pan (approx 9x13 inch) or muffin tin
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Whisk

Allergen Information

⚠️ Wheat
⚠️ Milk
⚠️ Egg

Instructions

1 ✓

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Whisk eggs with salt in a bowl, then stir in oil, sour cream, and milk.

Tip: Emulsifying wet ingredients ensures fat distributes evenly in the batter.
2 ✓

In another bowl, mix flours and baking soda, then fold into the wet mixture. Finally, stir in the cheese.

Tip: Don't overmix! Just combine. Overworking strengthens gluten strands, making the bread rubbery instead of crumbly.
3 ✓

Pour batter into a greased pan or molds.

Tip: Baking soda reacts immediately with the acid in sour cream (creating CO2), so get it into the oven fast!
4 ✓

Bake for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden brown and a tester comes out clean.

Tip: Golden color indicates caramelization of cheese and dough sugars.
5 ✓

Serve warm, drizzled with extra sour cream.

Tip: The cheese is still melty when warm, making it most delicious.

Recipe FAQ

Can I use corn flour?
Traditionally Proja is made with corn flour! Feel free to replace half the wheat flour with cornmeal for a more authentic, crunchy texture.
Why did the top crack?
That's not a mistake, it's good! Proja is rustic. Baking powder lifts the dough rapidly in the hot oven.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup All-Purpose Flour (plus 2 tbsp)
  • 3/4 cup Cornmeal (Fine or Medium)
  • 3/4 cup Sour Cream
  • 2 large Eggs
  • 1/4 cup Sunflower or Vegetable Oil
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
  • 5 oz Semi-hard Cheese (e.g. Gouda, Cheddar), grated
  • 2/3 cup Milk (or Sparkling Water)