Zan and Rongpu Takeng - Arunachal Pradesh Special

After making a flavoursome gravy from Hyderabadi cuisine for Andhra state, now am taking you all towards Arunachal Pradesh. This state is in Northeast part of India and its one mong the seven states which goes under North eastern region of India, they are popularly known as the seven sisters. Arunachal Pradesh means land of rising sun, yes the sun hits this state before spreading its rays to the other states of India.This state is an agricultural state rich in production of cereal crops like rice,wheat,millet, sugarcane,maize and oil seeds, these are common crops of the state.Obviously rice is the staple food of the people.

Momos and thupka are the most popular dishes of Arunachal pradesh eventhough its still debatable whether momos are originated in Arunachal pradesh or has come from another nearby country coz the Monpa tribe of this state are responsible for bringing this dish here. Coming to today's recipe Zan is an another popular dish prepared with millet flour and boiling water. This zan is the staple food of Monpas, they usually have this porridge with vegetables or meat to which fermented cheese,soyabeans and herbs are added. This dish is almost like our South Indian Koozh aka porridge we prepare either with pearl millet or with finger millet flour.Rongpu Takeng is nothing a quick mashed egg spiced with just salt and ginger. This dish is called Egg Chutney and a delicious spread to enjoy with rotis which i chosed from Ramki's Space . The authentic cuisine of Arunachal pradesh goes for dishes which are simple to cook and delicious to consume.Mostly they avoid the use of oil and any kind of dry spices obviously they cook their food either by steaming and boiling to preserve the nutritive value of their food.

Healthy Porridge Mix-For Diet

Porridge are quite a healthy, filling breakfast dish which is usually prepared with oats cooked in milk and served along with nuts,fruits or else simply with honey..My version of porridge goes for a powder prepared with sprouted green gram,sprouted horsegram, sago,quinoa, oats, barley,flaxseeds, wheat,ragi and brown rice..This porridge mix is really very handy and very filling breakfast porridge for people who were dieting..Adding horsegram to this porridge mix turned out this mix as an interesting porridge coz horsegram are very much adviced to the peoples whoever wanted to reduce their weight, usually this porridge mix goes for nuts like almonds and cashews which i skipped completely in this mix...U can cook this porridge mix with milk or water by adding honey or sugar, my choice goes for water and honey, its such a filling breakfast sometimes i dont even feel tired or hungry for long hours..



1cup Sprouted green gram
1cup Quinoa
2cups Sprouted horsegram
1/4cup Sago
1/2cup Barley
1/2cup Brown rice
1cup Wheat
1cup Rolled oats
1/4cup Flaxseeds
1/2cup Whole ragi

Dry the sprouted green gram and sprouted horsegram in sun or over a thick towel for overnite..once everything gets dry, dry roast all the ingredients given for making the porridge mix one by one until a nice aroma comes, keep aside and let them cool completely...Grind this roasted grains as fine powder, sieve the powder, grind again until all the grains get finished and conserve them in air tightened bottle..

Making Porridge:
2tbsp Porridge mix
1cup Water/milk
Honey/Sugar

Bring boil the water or milk, add the porridge mix, mix well without lumps, finally add the honey or sugar and enjoy for breakfast...

Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge

Jamaican cornmeal porridge is such a delightful and healthy porridge prepared with yellow cornemal, sweetened condensed milk,vanilla essence spiced with cinnamon powder and nutmeg powder..This is the most common porridge in Jamaica and the old jamaican people call this porridge as pop or cog..It seems Jamaican people believes that this porridge is known as a sort of cleanser because the cornmeal is supposed to be rough enough to mildly pass through the digestive system..Dunno whether its true, anyhow this cornmeal porridge tastes fantastic when they are served warm and my DH relished each and every spoon of this delicious creamy cornmeal porridge..

1/4cup Yellow cornmeal
1+1/2cup Water
1/4tsp Salt
1/2cup Sweetened condensed milk
1/4tsp Nutmeg powder
1/4tsp Cinnamon powder
1tsp Vanilla extract

Mix the cornmeal with half a cup of water, meanwhile bring a cup of water to boil, stir the already prepared cornmeal mixture and salt, cook everything until the cornmeal gets well cooked..Add the condensed milk, vanilla essence, give a stir..

Serve warm topped with cinnamon and nutmeg powder!! enjoy!!

Kamban Koozh(Pearl Millet Porridge)

Pearl millet known as Bajra, Kambu is largely grown as grains under hot, dry conditions on infertile soils where other crops generally fail...Pearl millet is a food crop in developing countries like Asia, and particularly in Africa.It is estimated that over 95% of pearl millet production is used as food, the remaining being divided between animal and poultry feed, other uses as seed, bakery products, snacks, etc.With a texture much like brown rice, pearl millet can be cooked like rice. After it has been soaked for a couple of hours, pearl millet in it’s whole grain form cooks like rice in about 20 minutes.Increasing in volume more than any other grain, a cup of dry millet expands to three cups of cooked millet which takes on the form of a fluffy, delicate flavored hot cereal you will definitely appreciate.Pearl millet is used in flat breads or mixed up to 25% with wheat flour for use in yeast breads.Dry flour when mixed with biscuit, bread and roll dough adds a crunchy texture and brings variety to the baked goods...Pearl millet grain is comparatively high in protein and has a good amino acid balance....Pearl Millet is a principal source of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals for millions of the poorest people in the regions where it is cultivated.This porridge is one the traditional kongu dish where people prepare either for their breakfast as porridge and for lunch as main dish with pickles or any gravies..Its a real complete food for a long day, as pearl millets are really high in calorie as they do wonders to growing kids and pregnant ladies.Pearl millet is a gluten free grain and is the only grain that retains it’s alkaline properties after being cooked which is ideal for people with wheat allergies.This simple porridge goes to RCI-Kongunadu Cuisine guest hosted by me, event started by Lakshmi..

1cup Kambu flour/Bajra flour
3cups Water
Salt
1cup Buttermilk

Mix a cup of bajra with a cup of water as smooth paste, allow to ferment overnight..Next day, bring boil two cups of water with enough salt and once it starts boiling, add the bajra paste and keep stirring continously on medium heat for 15 minutes, wet you finger and dip ur finger in the porridge, if the porridge sticks to your finger, its not yet cooked..

Let cool the cooked bajra porridge..mix in a cup of buttermilk and serve with onions, pickles or thick coconut chutney..