SOUTH INDIAN RICE PONGAL/ VEN PONGAL

Rice Pongal is a very popular breakfast dish in South India. It is easy to make and tastes delicious with tomato chutney and sambar.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups pongal rice

¼ cup moong dal

Salt to taste

3 tbsp ghee

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 ½ tsp black pepper

1 cinnamon

1 cardamom

3 tbsp chopped cashews

2 inch ginger chopped

1/8 tsp turmeric powder

¼ tsp asafetida

8 to 10 curry leaves

¼ tsp mustard seeds

Method

• Soak pongal rice and moong dal in water for about half an hour. Drain the water from them and keep ready.
• Take pongal rice, moong dal, salt and 6 and 1/2 cups water in a pressure cooker and pressure cook for 3 whistles.
• Heat ghee in a pan, add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger and curry leaves and sauté for a few seconds.
• Add cashews, turmeric powder, asafetida and a pinch of salt and saute till the cashews turn golden.
• Switch off the gas and wait till the rice and moong dal mix has cooked and the steam has come out.
• Open the lid of the cooker and add the seasoning to the cooked rice and moong dal and mix well.
• Add a few tsps of ghee on top and serve hot with tomato chutney and sambar.