Ven Pongal Recipe - South Indian Rice And Lentil Pudding
Ven Pongal Recipe is a very traditional breakfast or tiffin dish in South India. Pongal festival is celebrated as the harvest festival and is spread over four days. Pongal in Tamil means something that is overflowing. The act of boiling over of milk in the clay pot is considered to denote future prosperity for the family.
Ingredients
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1 cup Rice
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1 cup Yellow Moong Dal (Split)
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Salt
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to taste
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Ingredients for Seasoning
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2 tablespoons Ghee
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plus plus more
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1 teaspoon Cumin seeds (Jeera)
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1 inch Ginger
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grated
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1 teaspoon Whole Black Peppercorns
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coarsely pounded
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2 tablespoons Cashew nuts
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halved
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1 sprig Curry leaves
Instructions
Step 1
To begin making the Ven Pongal Recipe; we will first cook the rice and lentils in the pressure cooker
Step 2
Heat the cooker on medium heat, add a tablespoon of ghee
Step 3
Add the washed moong dal and roast the dal in the ghee for about a minute
Step 4
Once the dal is roasted, add the rice, salt and 5 cups of water
Step 5
Cover the pressure cooker, place the weight on and cook until you hear a whistle
Step 6
After the first whistle, turn the heat to low and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes
Step 7
After 3 to 4 minutes, turn off the heat and allow the pressure to release naturally
Step 8
While the pressure is releasing, heat a tablespoon of ghee in a small pan, add in the cashew nuts and roast on low heat until lightly browned
Step 9
Next add in a teaspoon of cumin seeds, 2 teaspoons of pounded black pepper, a tablespoon of grated ginger, the roughly torn curry leaves
Step 10
Turn off the heat and stir all the ingredients in the remaining heat
Step 11
Once the pressure has released from the cooker, we will add in the prepared seasoning into the rice
Step 12
Stir the seasoning into the rice until well Stir the prepared seasoning and an additional 2 to 3 tablespoons of ghee into the rice
Step 13
Stir until all the ingredients and the ghee are well combined into the Ven Pongal
Step 14
Spoon the Ven Pongal onto a rounded cup and press the rice in
Step 15
Invert the cup onto a plate you voila you get a cup of Ven Pongal on your platter
Step 16
Pick a cashew piece from the Pongal and place on the top to decorate
Step 17
Serve the Ven Pongal for the Pongal Festival or a Sunday Breakfast along with Sakkarai Pongal, Vada Sambar and Kathirikai Gothsu - Eggplant in a Tangy Gravy
Step 18