Ven Pongal (வெண் பொங்கல்)

Here is another delicious pongal prepared during the Pongal festival.. Ven Pongal is also a very famous breakfast dish which tastes awesome with Sambar (or Gothsu) and Coconut Chutney… This one is quick and also easy.. I have made this with 4 table spoons of ghee, but you can surely increase the quantity of ghee.. Pongal can absorb all the ghee you add to it.. But make sure you add a little on top while serving…

Ingredients
Rice – 1 ¼ cups
Paasi Parupu / Yellow Moong Dal – 1 cup
Whole pepper (Milagu) – 1 tea spoon
Pepper Powder – 1 tea spoon (adjust to taste)
Salt – 1 ½ tea spoon
Curry leaves – 10
Coriander leaves – 1 table spoon
Ghee – 4 table spoons (can add up to 8 table spoons)
Water – 6 cups
Cashew – 1 table spoon
Cumin Seeds – ½ tea spoon
Ginger (grated) – 1 tea spoon
Asafetida – A pinch
Milk – 1 cup

Method
Wash and clean the rice and the parupu and put it in the pressure cooker with 6 cups of water and 1 cup of milk
Add whole pepper to the above and pressure cook until 3 whistles or well boiled.
Once the parupu and rice are well boiled, heat ghee in a big pan
Add 3 table spoons cashew to the ghee
Once the cashew is golden brown, add cumin seeds and grated ginger
Keep the heat on very slow flame.
Add the rice and parupu mixture and mix well
Add salt, asafetida, curry leaves and coriander leaves
Mix the above well
Once the mixture is well mixed, add 2 more table spoons of ghee.
Now the Ven pongal is ready to be served hot!

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