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ven pongal is rice and moong dal breakfast dish served in earthen pots along side coconut chutney and sambar
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3.50 from 2 votes

Ven Pongal

The ultimate comfort food traditionally served for breakfast in Southern parts of India. Ven pongal as popularly called is that breakfast dish that you want to make it every week and I personally wouldn't mind everyday too. It's soothing, comforting and satisfying. 
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: Indian
Servings: 3 servings
Calories: 451kcal

Ingredients

  • ½ cup rice
  • ½ cup yellow moong dal
  • 2 green chilies
  • 1 ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 teaspoon black pepper corns
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • 10 cashews
  • 1 teaspoon ginger, chopped fine
  • 3 tbspn ghee
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  • Dry roast rice and moong dal in a hot kadai. This will bring out nice aroma of the pongal.
  • Wash & Soak rice and moong dal together for about 15-20 minutes. Soaking helps in faster cooking.
  • In a pressure cooker add the soaked rice and dal and 4 cups of water, whole green chilies(slit) and pressure cook for 3-4 whistles.
  • Once pressure is released, remove the cooker lid and mash the mixture using a ladle.
  • In a deep bottom pan, add ghee and roast cashews in hot ghee until they turn golden brown. Remove cashews and keep them aside.
  • Into the same pan add oil, once hot, add cumin seeds, pepper corns, asafoetida, salt, chopped ginger and curry leaves. Saute for a minute or 2.
  • Now add cooked rice dal mix and mix it well making sure no lumps are formed. Reduce the flame and cook it for 5 minutes.
  • Serve hot with coconut chutney and sambar or even spicy pickle goes well with pongal.

Notes

  1. Do not miss the step of dry roasting rice and dal separately. This will bring the flavors out and results in pongal that tastes as good as from your favorite restaurant.
  2. Ghee is MUST while making pongal. The flavor and taste of pongal all depends on how much ghee you use. Loads of ghee = amazing tasty pongal :D
  3. I always soak dal and rice together before cooking in pressure cooker. This helps cook rice-dal faster. 
  4. Adding green chilies to rice-dal in pressure cooker is optional. If you like spicy pongal then green chilies does it's magic. 

Nutrition

Calories: 451kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 114mg | Potassium: 126mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 90IU | Vitamin C: 16.9mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 2.8mg