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Elarji – Cheesy Georgian Cornmeal with Sulguni

Ingredients:

Fine white cornmeal

250 Grams

Water

1 Liters

Sulguni cheese

400 Grams

grated (or mozzarella)

Salt

1/2 Teaspoons

adjust to the cheese

Preparation mode:

👉 Elarji is a rich, stretchy cornmeal and cheese dish from Samegrelo in western Georgia. Smooth cornmeal porridge (ghomi) is beaten with plenty of sulguni cheese until it becomes elastic and glossy – Georgian comfort food at its best.

🇬🇪 What Is Elarji?

Elarji (ელარჯი) is a specialty of the Megrelian kitchen, where cornmeal is a staple. It is closely related to ghomi (plain cornmeal porridge), but the large amount of melted sulguni turns it into something like a Georgian fondue-polenta. It is traditionally served with walnut sauces such as bazhe or satsivi.

🍳 How to Make Elarji

1. Boil the water. Bring the water to the boil in a heavy pot and add a little salt

2. Add the cornmeal. Slowly pour in the cornmeal while whisking constantly to avoid lumps

3. Cook. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 20–25 minutes, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until thick and smooth

4. Add the cheese. Add the grated sulguni in handfuls, beating hard after each addition

5. Stretch. Keep stirring and pulling the mixture with the spoon for 3–5 minutes until it turns glossy and stretchy. Serve immediately

😋 Why You’ll Love Elarji

It is creamy, cheesy and incredibly satisfying – and naturally gluten-free. Pulling long cheesy strands from the bowl is part of the fun.

💡 Tips for the Best Elarji

Use fine white cornmeal for the smoothest texture.
Stir constantly – cornmeal catches on the bottom easily.
Sulguni is salty, so add salt carefully.
Mozzarella mixed with a little feta is a good substitute for sulguni.

🍽️ How to Serve Elarji

Serve hot with walnut sauce (bazhe), chicken satsivi or grilled meat. Elarji firms up as it cools, so serve it straight from the pot.

❓ Elarji FAQ

What is the difference between elarji and ghomi?
Ghomi is plain cornmeal porridge; elarji has lots of cheese beaten into it.

Is elarji gluten-free?
Yes – it is made only from cornmeal, water and cheese.

👉 Learn more about Georgian cuisine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_cuisine

More Georgian recipes on my website:
👉 https://cuisinesguide.com/recipe-cuisine/georgian-cuisine/
👉 Khachapuri (Georgian Cheese Bread)
👉 Chicken Shkmeruli – Georgian Garlic Chicken

Footnotes:

Photo: Elarji - cornmeal and sulguni cheese by Georgian Recipes at Georgia About ; colo, Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 3.0. Cropped and color-adjusted by Cuisines Guide.