Sarkarai Pongal/Sweet Pongal with Jaggery சர்க்கரைப் பொங்கல்

Sweet Pongal/சர்க்கரைப் பொங்கல் is liked by one and all and it is very easy to cook in 'Pressure Cooker'.  It can be cooked in a very short span of time. Since we use Jaggery- natural sugar, ghee and green gram, it’s a healthy sweet too.

Ingredients:

Raw Rice/பச்சரிசி - 3/4 Cup

Moong Dhal/SplitGreen gra/Mung Bean

பாசிப்பருப்பு  - 1/4 Cup

Jaggery/வெல்லம் - 3/4 to 1 Cup (according to sweet preference)

Elachi/Cardamom/ ஏலக்காய் - 1

Grated Coconut/தேங்காய் துருவல் - 1 tbsp

Ghee/Clarified Butter/நெய் - 3 to 4 tbsp

Garnish -Ghee Roasted Cashew nuts - 5 to 7

(முந்திரிப்பருப்பு)

Method:

Wash the rice and green gram lentil together thoroughly and add 3 Cups of water. Pressure cook for in medium flame for about 8 to 10 minutes.

In a pan add 1 tablespoon of ghee and stir in the cooked rice mixture. Mix well until get mashed, now add Jaggery and mix thoroughly. Add more ghee, cook for few minutes. Stir in grated coconut and add rest of the ghee.

Garnish with roasted Cashew nuts and serve hot.

It makes very good for Prasadham/Neivedhyam/offering for God.

சாம்பார் சாதம்/கதம்ப சாதம்/Sambhar Rice/Rice with lentils and mixed vegetables

Sambhar Rice  and Cucumber Raitha is a complete meal packed with all the necessary nutrients for a fulfilling meal. It's great for Potluck Meals and Lunch box as well.

Ingredients:

Drumstick/முருங்கைக்காய் - 1

Carrot/காரட் - 1

Green Beans/ பீன்ஸ் - 5,6

Broad Beans/அவரக்காய் - 5,6

Choyate/சௌசௌ - 1/2

Unripe Mango/மாங்காய் - few pieces

Tomato/தக்காளி - 2

Big Onion/பெரிய வெங்காயம் - 1

Pumpkin/பரங்கிக்காய் - 1/4 (dices about half cup)

Turmeric Powder/மஞ்சள் தூள் - 1/2 tsp.

Sambhar Powder/சாம்பார் தூள் - 2 tsp.

Parboiled Rice/புளுங்கல் அரிசி  (or)

Raw rice/பச்சரிசி  - 1 Cup

Toor Dhal/Split pigeon peas/Yellow lentils/

துவரம் பருப்பு - 1/2  Cup

Tamarind/புளி - 1 gooseberry size/ ஒரு நெல்லிக்காய் அளவு

Pumpkin/பரங்கிக்காய்

Tempering:

Mustard Seeds/கடுகு - 1/2 tsp.

Asafetida/பெருங்காயம் - 1/8 tsp.

Curry leaves/கரிவேப்பிலை - few leaves

Ghee/Clarified Butter/நெய் (or)

Cooking oil - 1 tbsp.

Salt - to taste

Masala Powder - to dry grind:

Fenugreek Seeds/வெந்தயம் - 1/2 tsp.

Jeera/Cumin Seeds/சீரகம் - 1 tsp.

Whole Black Pepper/மிளகு - 1/2 tsp.

Black gram/உளுத்தம்பருப்பு - 1 tsp.

Red Chilli/வரமளகாய் - 4

 

Mashed Rice and Dhal..

Method:

Cook Rice and Dhal separately adding enough water, always cook Toor Dhal with little bit of fenugreek seeds/வெந்தயம் to enhance the flavor.

Mash the rice and Dhal well with a masher and set aside.

Cut all the vegetables, add enough water to cook, add salt, Sambhar Powder, turmeric Powder and pressure cook for 10 minutes.

If you think பரங்கிக்காய்/Pumpkin will get mashed, you can cook separately and add.

Take all the masala ingredients and sauté for 2 minutes to emanate the flavor, let it cool and dry grind in a mixer. Now the masala Powder is ready.

Soak Tamraind in water and squeeze out the tamarind essence and add to the cooked vegetables. 

In a large pan add 1 tbs of ghee (preferably) or cooking oil and add the tempering ingredients.

Now stir in the cooked vegetables, ground masala and salt.

Slowly add the mashed rice and Dhal, stir well after each addition. Mix thoroughly and check salt.  Cook for few minutes.

Garnish with fresh Coriander leaves/மல்லித்தழை.

Serve with Cucumber Raitha(with yoghurt)/வெள்ளரிக்காய் தயிர் பச்சடி.

 

With Cucumber Raitha/வெள்ளரிக்காய் தயிர் பச்சடி