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Zan
Arunachali millet porridge with vegetables and ginger
Zan is the millet porridge of Arunachal Pradesh, eaten by the Monpa, Sherdukpen and other hill communities for breakfast or dinner on cold days. Finger millet (ragi) flour is stirred into boiling water with vegetables, ginger and chilli until thick and smooth, then served with a chilli chutney or butter. Some families cook it with meat; this is the vegetable version. It is warming, filling and earthy-tasting, a little like a savoury polenta. Chef's tip: sprinkle the millet flour in with one hand while whisking with the other, or it forms lumps that never cook out.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 litre water
- 1 ⅛ in gingergrated
- 2 garlic clovescrushed
- 2 green chillieschopped
- 1 medium potatosmall dice
- 5 ½ oz cabbageshredded
- 3 ½ oz mustard greens or spinachchopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 spring onionschopped
- 1 tbsp mustard oil (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Bring 1 litre water to the boil with 1 ⅛ in ginger, 2 garlic cloves, 2 green chillies and 1 tsp salt. Add 1 medium potato and simmer for 8 minutes until almost tender.
8 minStep 2: Add 5 ½ oz cabbage and 3 ½ oz mustard greens or spinach and cook 3 minutes.
3 minStep 3: Lower the heat. Sprinkle in 4 oz finger millet (ragi) flour slowly with one hand while whisking hard with the other. Common mistake: tipping it in at once, which makes dry lumps.
Step 4: Cook over a low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 8–10 minutes until thick, glossy and smooth and it pulls away from the pan sides. It should drop from the spoon in soft clumps.
10 minStep 5: Serve in bowls with 2 spring onions and a drizzle of 1 tbsp mustard oil or a knob of butter, and a chilli chutney on the side.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 170 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 34 g
- Fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does zan take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 25 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 vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- 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 garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
- What can I use instead of potato?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
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