Sakkarai Pongal Recipe (Sweetened Rice And Jaggery Pudding Recipe)
Sakkarai Pongal Recipe is a traditional South Indian pudding made of rice sweetened with jaggery. It has a porridge-like consistency, mildly flavored with cardamom. Sakkarai Pongal is most often made along with Ven Pongal for the festival of Pongal, celebrated to mark the beginning of the harvest season in India. Pongal in Tamil means something that is “overflowing” and the festival is celebrated in honor of abundance and prosperity, over four days. The ritual of boiling over of milk in a clay pot is usually done to ensure prosperity for the family.
Ingredients
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3/4 cup Rice
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washed
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1/2 cup Yellow Moong Dal (Split)
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washed
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1 cup Jaggery
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1 teaspoon Cardamom Powder (Elaichi)
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1/4 cup Ghee
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Ingredients for Seasoning
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2 tablespoons Cashew nuts
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halved
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1 tablespoon Ghee
Instructions
Step 1
To begin making the Sakkarai Pongal Recipe, heat a pan on medium heat and roast the yellow moong dal until a lightly roasted aroma is released
Step 2
Don’t allow the moong dal to turn brown
Step 3
Place the roasted moong dal and the washed rice into the pressure cooker
Step 4
Add 2-1/2 cups of water, cover the pan, place the weight on and pressure cook until you heat one whistle
Step 5
After the first whistle, turn the heat to low and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes
Step 6
After 3 to 4 minutes, turn off the heat and allow the pressure to release naturally
Step 7
Keep this aside
Step 8
In a saucepan, add 1/4 cup of water and melt the jaggery on medium heat
Step 9
Allow the jaggery to come to a boil
Step 10
Stir in the cardamom powder to the jaggery mixture and turn off the heat
Step 11
Keep this aside
Step 12
Now heat a tablespoon of ghee in a small pan and roast the cashew nuts until golden and crisp
Step 13
Turn off the heat and keep aside
Step 14
In the final steps to make Sakkarai Pongal; add the melted jaggery mixture and the roasted cashew nuts along with the 1/4 cup of ghee into the cooked rice and dal
Step 15
Stir well on medium heat for about 5 minutes until the jaggery has got well blended with the rice and dal mixture
Step 16
The Sakkarai Pongal is now ready
Step 17
Turn off the heat and transfer the Pongal to a serving bowl
Step 18
The Sakkarai Pongal is traditionally offered on a fresh banana leaf along with Ven Pongal, Vada Sambar and Kathirikai Gothsu - Eggplant in a Tangy Gravy
Step 19
Do make this recipe for the Pongal Festival or even for a delicious breakfast with family and friends