Balkan Style Cornmeal Muffins with Feta (Projice sa Sirom)

5 from 2 votes

Try these easy Balkan cornmeal muffins with feta. Savory, fluffy, and perfect for breakfast, a healthy snack, or a side to your favorite meal.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Resting time15

Total Time1

Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: Balkan

Servings: muffins

Calories: 295kcal

Preheat the oven to 392°F (200°C) and lightly grease a muffin pan with cooking spray.
Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl: cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt.
Whisk the eggs in a separate small bowl until smooth.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry mix: sparkling water, oil, and the beaten eggs. Stir with a spoon until everything is well combined.
Add the feta cheese. You can crumble it by hand or use store-bought crumbled feta.
Choose your texture: For muffins with distinct feta chunks, gently fold the cheese into the batter. For a smoother texture, mix with a hand mixer so the cheese breaks down into tiny pieces.
Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
Bake in the center of the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool and serve. Let the muffins rest in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Refer to the post above for common Q&A and pairing suggestions.
Nutrition information is an estimate and will depend on your specific ingredients.
Cornmeal: I like using Bob's Red Mill Organic Medium Grind for the best texture and mild crunch.
Feta cheese: A block of feta works beautifully here, but crumbled feta is also convenient and easy to mix in.
Sparkling water: Adds airiness and keeps the muffins light inside.
Oil: Traditionally, Balkan recipes use sunflower oil, but olive oil, grapeseed, avocado, or vegetable oil work just as well.
Eggs: Bind everything together and give the muffins a soft, tender crumb.
Baking powder: Helps the muffins rise and stay fluffy
Salt: Enhances the flavor and balances the feta’s saltiness.
All-purpose flour: It gives the muffins structure and lightness. You can also use whole wheat flour for a heartier version, just note that it will make the muffins a bit denser with a richer flavor.