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Paknam
পাকনাম: Manipuri gram-flour cake with herbs and dried fish, steamed then roasted in leaves
Paknam is a Meitei favourite from Manipur, made at home and sold at Ima Keithel market in Imphal: a thick gram-flour batter loaded with herbs, onion, chilli and small dried fish, wrapped in leaves, steamed and then roasted until the outside crusts. It is eaten with rice or as a snack. The mistake is skipping the steaming and roasting straight away, which leaves the centre raw. For a vegetarian version, leave out the fish and add chopped mushrooms and extra herbs. Chef's tip: rinse and soak the dried fish to tame its salt before mixing it in.
- Total time
- 65 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the paknam
- 1 ¾ oz small dried fishrinsed, soaked 10 min and chopped
- 7 oz gram flour (besan)
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 3 green chillieschopped
- 2 ⅛ oz mixed herbs (coriander, mint, spring onion, culantro)chopped
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup waterapproximately
- 2 banana leaveslarge, softened over a flame
- 1 tbsp mustard oil
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mix 7 oz gram flour (besan), ¼ tsp ground turmeric and ½ tsp salt with ¾ cup water into a thick batter that drops off a spoon.
5 minStep 2: Stir in 1 ¾ oz small dried fish, 1 onion, 3 green chillies and 2 ⅛ oz mixed herbs (coriander, mint, spring onion, culantro).
3 minStep 3: Brush the 2 banana leaves with 1 tbsp mustard oil, spread the batter 2 cm thick in the centre and fold into a tight parcel. Tie with string.
5 minStep 4: Steam the parcel, covered, until a skewer pushed into the centre comes out clean.
25 minStep 5: Roast the parcel on a dry griddle over medium heat, turning, until the leaf chars and the cake is crusted underneath.
12 minStep 6: Cut into slices and serve warm.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 240 kcal
- Protein
- 17 g
- Carbs
- 28 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
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Good to know
- How long does paknam take?
- About 65 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of ground turmeric?
- Leave it out (it mostly adds colour).
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