Zan (Vegetable Porridge) – Arunachal Pradesh

Zan (Vegetable Porridge) – Arunachal Pradesh

Zan is a traditional vegetarian dish from Arunachal Pradesh, mainly prepared by the Monpa tribe living in the cold Himalayan regions. It is a thick and nutritious porridge made from millet or barley flour and cooked with seasonal vegetables. Zan is a staple food that provides warmth and energy, making it especially suitable for the cold climate of the state. The dish is simple, healthy, and prepared using locally available ingredients.The preparation of Zan involves boiling water and slowly adding millet or barley flour while stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Fresh vegetables such as spinach, mustard greens, pumpkin, or radish are added, along with salt and local herbs. Traditionally, no oil is used, which makes the dish light and easy to digest. Zan is usually eaten hot and served as a main meal, often during breakfast or lunch.

Key Points about Zan

• Traditional vegetarian dish of Arunachal Pradesh

• Popular among the Monpa tribe

• Made from millet or barley flour

• Cooked with seasonal vegetables

• No oil used in traditional preparation

• Provides warmth and energy

• Nutritious, healthy, and easy to digest

• Suitable for cold mountainous regions