Ven Pongal | Pongal Recipe

Ven Pongal or Pongal is a popular South Indian savory breakfast recipe which is prepared from rice and green gram. The rice would be preferably raw rice (Paccharisi). The ratio of rice and green gram is 3:1. These 2 ingredients are typically boiled to its softness in a pot or using a pressure cooker and it is mashed together and seasoned with flavorful ingredients.

For easy instructions, check the video below:




A very quick and yummy breakfast of flavorful spices with mashed rice and lentils! For the best taste, always gently roast lentils in ghee(clarified butter) and boil the rice - lentil mixture after soaking in water for sometime with a pinch of asafetida and salt to taste. If you are cooking in pot, make sure the pot is deeper. Rice and the lentils has the property to boil over and spill. So add 3 parts of water to 1 part of rice first. When the water comes to boil, then add the rice and lentils. It is always advised not to cover the rice completely. So cover it 3/4 with a lid and stir occasionally until done.

Recipe:

• Prep time - 15 mins
• Cooking time - 30 mins

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup rice, Preferably Ponni raw rice ( Paccharisi )
• 1/4 cup green gram/ Lentils ( Paccha paruppu)
• 1 tbsp ghee
• 1/2 tsp asafetida
• 3 1/2 cups water ( Hot water makes the cooking faster)
• Salt to taste ( 1 1/2 tsp salt )
• Less than 1/4 tsp ground pepper
• For seasoning:
• 1 tbsp ghee ( clarified butter)
• 1 tbsp cooking oil ( optional)
• Generous handful of cashews, broken into small pieces
• 2 cms size ginger, crushed
• 1/2 tsp Peppercorns
• 1/2 tsp Cumin
• Curry leaves

Method: 

• Wash and soak the rice in water for 15 mins. Preferably plain water.
• In a pressure cooker, slow roast the lentil with few drops of oil or ghee. Add in the washed rice and the water along with asafetida and enough salt.
• Cook it until the rice and lentils are soft and mushy.
• Once the pressure is released, open the lid and mash with a ladle gently. Keep it aside.
• In a skillet all the seasoning ingredients and roast it. Once it's golden roasted, add it to the mashed rice and lentil mixture.
• Add some ground pepper corns to it.
• Serve it hot with coconut chutney and sambar.

Hope you liked the recipe. I share another interesting recipe in my next post. Your feedback and comments are welcome. For more updates from Sindhu's Kitchen Recipes, follow me in Youtube and Instagram. Have a great day!