Serbian Corn Bread (Srpska Proja) Recipe

Corn Bread in a Cast Iron Skillet
LauriPatterson / Getty Images
  • 75 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins,
  • Cook: 60 mins
  • Yield: 13x9-inch pan (10 servings)
Ratings (5)

By Barbara Rolek

Updated 11/17/17

This recipe for Serbian cornbread or srpska proja. It was a staple among Serbian peasants and more common than white wheat bread.

Today, proja is served warm often with cracklings, yogurt, soft cheese, sauerkraut dishes, kajmak or sarma.

Cornmeal is used in various preparations in the Balkans and is seen in Bulgarian kachamak (like polenta) and Romanian mamaliga balls, for example.

What You'll Need

  • 5 cups cornmeal
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 8 ounces butter (softened)
  • 3 large eggs (beaten)
  • 2 cups milk

How to Make It

  1. Heat oven to 375 F. Lightly coat a 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, mix cornmeal with salt, butter, eggs, and 1 cup milk until thoroughly mixed, for at least 5 minutes.
  3. Add remaining 1 cup milk and mix again for 5 minutes.
  4. Transfer to prepared pan and bake until golden and crumbs stick to a toothpick.
  5. Cut into squares, but leave in the pan, and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes, for a total baking time of 50 to 60 minutes. The cornbread should be crusty on all sides.
  1. Serve warm.

Serbian Cornbread Go-Withs

Since this cornbread is on the dryer side, it's ideal to accompany hearty Serbian saucy dishes like white bean soup or bean stew but don't count it out as an accompaniment for sarma. This is one of those times when Miss Manners won't mind you sopping up the juices on your plate with a piece of bread.

Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
Calories 450
Total Fat 24 g
Saturated Fat 13 g
Unsaturated Fat 7 g
Cholesterol 144 mg
Sodium 79 mg
Carbohydrates 50 g
Dietary Fiber 4 g
Protein 10 g
(The nutrition information on our recipes is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. Individual results may vary.)