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Marzan
مرزان (marzan): Baltistan's thick winter flour pudding with a pool of butter and apricot oil
PakistaniWhen snow cuts off the villages of Baltistan around Skardu and Khaplu, marzan is the dish that keeps people going: wholewheat flour stirred into boiling water until it becomes a thick, smooth, heavy pudding, shaped into a mound with a well in the centre filled with melted butter and apricot-kernel oil. It is eaten communally by hand, each person pulling a piece from the edge and dipping it in the fat, and it is made for new mothers, for guests after a cold journey and for winter mornings. Some families eat it plain and savoury, others sweeten it with a little sugar or serve it with dried apricots, which is how it is written here. Lumps are the usual complaint, so add the flour slowly. Chef's tip: whisk the flour into the water a spoonful at a time, then switch to a sturdy wooden spoon and beat hard as it thickens; and use only food-grade culinary apricot-kernel oil, or more butter.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the pudding
To finish
- 1 ¾ oz butter
- 6 dried apricots (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Bring 3 cups water and 1 pinch salt to the boil in a heavy pan.
3 minStep 2: Lower the heat and add 7 oz wholewheat flour (atta) a spoonful at a time, whisking constantly, until it is all in and the mixture is smooth.
5 minStep 3: Switch to a wooden spoon and cook over a low heat, beating hard and scraping the base, for 12–15 minutes until very thick, glossy and pulling away from the pan, with no floury taste; stir in 2 tbsp sugar towards the end if using.
15 minStep 4: Melt 1 ¾ oz butter with 2 tbsp culinary apricot-kernel oil or extra butter in a small pan.
2 minStep 5: Turn the marzan onto a warm plate, shape it into a mound with a wet spoon, make a deep well in the centre and pour in the hot butter and oil. Serve at once with 6 dried apricots, pulling pieces from the edge and dipping them in the well.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 340 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 40 g
- Fat
- 17 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does marzan take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 5 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 vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of culinary apricot-kernel oil or extra butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
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