Ven Pongal Recipe – South Indian Speciality

About pongal 

Pongal is a common South Indian meal that can be cooked either savoury or sweet using rice and moong dal. This is a comfort breakfast dish which is also enjoyed for lunch and dinner. Pongal has two variations, a sweet Pongal and khara Pongal, khara Pongal also known as ven pongal is the recipe we are trying today. 

Ghee, curry leaves, black pepper, ginger, cumin, and hing are used as seasonings in khara pongal recipe. In addition to being served as naivedyam in South Indian households and temples on regular pooja, auspicious days, and festivals, this meal is incredibly flavorful and delectable.

Preparation of ven pongal 

A typical South Indian dish called ven pongal is prepared using rice, split yellow moong dal, ghee, cumin, ginger, pepper, and curry leaves. In Tamil, the word “Venn” means “white,” while “pongal” is a common preparation of rice and lentils. One of the dishes prepared during the four-day Pongal/Sankranti festival.

Ven pongal can be altered and prepared by adding grated coconut or vegetables of your choice to make it more nutritious and delicious. This wholesome dish can be enjoyed any time of the day and keeps you full for a longer time. An awesome lunch box menu and can be served to all age groups due to its high nutrient content. Serve the delicious ven pongal with sambar or spicy coconut chutney. 

Ingredients for ven pongal recipe 

Rice: Sona masoori rice is used in this recipe because it has an excellent flavour. However, you can substitute any standard medium to short-grained white rice.

Moong lentils: Husked, split, and yellow moong lentils are used to make ven pongal. Try to use fresh lentils rather than older varieties because they will cook more slowly.

Spices – Cumin, black peppercorns, curry leaves, ginger, and asafoetida are the spices and herbs that give ven pongal such a rich flavour. Do your best to include each and every one of them.

Ghee – Ghee is a crucial component that gives this dish a rich aroma.

Cashews: Nutty cashews offer a delicious crunch to the ven pongal recipe.

Importance of ven pongal during festivals

A highly well-known morning meal from the state of Tamil Nadu, Ven Pongal is generally made during Pongal, the South Indian harvest festival. This meal has savoury flavours and a very lovely texture because it is cooked in ghee. You only need a few basic ingredients and 30 minutes to cook this dinner! This rice meal not only tastes excellent for breakfast, but it may also be packed for lunch.

The harvest festival, known as Ven Pongal, is particularly important since it is thought that boiling the rice till it spills out of the pot is a ritual that should be performed every year. People make a wish for their homes’ wealth of resources by doing this symbolic action.

The seasoning can be adjusted to your preferences. Ven Pongal is typically served with coconut chutney, sambar, and vadai and is a complete, balanced meal that fills the stomach. With the exception of the ghee that is applied to it on top before serving to improve flavour and taste, it is moderately spiced, and highly healthy.

The majority of temples typically provide hot, steaming pongal to the devotees after worship on the day of the Pongal festival. They come with tiny banana leaves for serving. This dish has a strong aroma that is ghee- and ven pongal-based and mildly spicy. Delicious and really irresistible! In Tamil Nadu, this dish is the second most popular breakfast item after Idli.

Ingredients for pongal recipe

• Raw rice/ sona masoori – ½ cup
• Yellow moong dal – ¼   cup 
• Green chilli – 1
• Finely chopped or grated ginger – ½ tsp 
• Salt 

For tempering 

• Ghee – 1 tbsp
• Asafoetida / hing  – ½ tsp
• Cumin seeds – ½ tsp
• Peppercorns – 1 tsp
• Curry leaves – 1 sprig
• Cashew nuts – 1 tbsp

Method to prepare pongal recipe

1. Dry roast ¼ cup of moong dal until it becomes light brown and keeps it aside.
2. To the yellow moong dal, add ½ cup Sona masoori rice and wash the grain well and drain.
3. To a pressure cooker transfer dal and rice add ½ tsp salt, 1 green chilli and 3 cups water and pressure cook for 5 to 6 whistles on medium flame. 
4. Once the pressure cools down remove the lid and gently mash and mix the rice and dal well.
5. Add ½ tsp finely chopped or grated ginger and mix well.
6. Add ½ cup of warm water to the Pongal if it is very thick and mix well.

For tempering

1. Heat a tempering pan, add 1 tbsp ghee as it heats add 1 tsp peppercorns, ½ tsp cumin seeds, and 1 tbsp cashew nuts and fry well.
2. Add 1 sprig of curry leaves, and ½ tsp asafoetida/hing and fry well.
3. Pour the tempering into the Pongal and mix well.
4. Top it with 1 tsp ghee and serve warm with sambar or coconut chutney. 

Tips and tricks to prepare Ven Pongal Recipe

• Rice and dal ratio can be taken in equal amounts to make the dish filling and wholesome.
• Addition of ghee is necessary to bring out the authentic flavours in the ven pongal recipe.
• Whole Peppercorns give the pongal its spice touch, do not skin peppercorns in the recipe.
• You can soak the rice and dal for 15 minutes before pressure cooking.
• You can also prepare the pongal recipe in a pan on a stovetop.
• If the pongal becomes too thick, add warm water to adjust the consistency.
• Addition of green chilli is optional.
• Moong dal can be substituted with any other variety of preferred dal, or along with moon dal, you can incorporate any other kind of dal to make pongal high in protein content.

FAQs

Ven Pongal Recipe – South Indian Speciality

Ven pongal, a simple and wholesome breakfast dish known for its flavours, aroma and taste

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine South Indian

Servings 4

Calories 200 kcal

Ingredients

  

Ingredients for Pongal Recipe

• ½ cup Raw rice/ sona masoori
• ¼ cup Yellow moong dal
• 1 no Green chilli
• ½ tsp Finely chopped or grated ginger
• Salt

For tempering

• 1 tbsp Ghee
• ½ tsp Asafoetida / hing 
• ½ tsp Cumin seeds 
• 1 tsp Peppercorns
• 1 sprig Curry leaves
• 1 tbsp Cashew nuts

Instructions

 

Method to Prepare Pongal Recipe

• Dry roast ¼ cup of moong dal until it becomes light brown and keeps it aside
• To the yellow moong dal, add ½ cup Sona masoori rice and wash the grain well and drain
• To a pressure cooker transfer dal and rice add ½ tsp salt, 1 green chilli and 3 cups water and pressure cook for 5 to 6 whistles on medium flame
• Once the pressure cools down remove the lid and gently mash and mix the rice and dal well
• Add ½ tsp finely chopped or grated ginger and mix well
• Add ½ cup of warm water to the Pongal if it is very thick and mix well

For Tempering

• Heat a tempering pan, add 1 tbsp ghee as it heats add 1 tsp peppercorns, ½ tsp cumin seeds, and 1 tbsp cashew nuts and fry well
• Add 1 sprig of curry leaves, and ½ tsp asafoetida/hing and fry well
• Pour the tempering into the Pongal and mix well
• Top it with 1 tsp ghee and serve warm with sambar or coconut chutney

Keyword pongal recipe, ven pongal