Pongal is a traditional South Indian dish made from rice and lentils. There are different variations of pongal, but a basic recipe is as follows:
Ingredients:
1 cup raw rice
1/2 cup yellow moong dal (split yellow lentils)
4 cups water
Salt to taste
1 tsp ghee (clarified butter)
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp black peppercorns
2-3 green cardamom pods
A few curry leaves (optional)
Instructions:
Rinse the rice and moong dal together in a pot until the water runs clear.
Add 4 cups of water and salt to the pot, and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer until the rice and dal are cooked and the mixture becomes thick, about 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Heat ghee in a small pan and add cumin seeds, black peppercorns, green cardamom pods and curry leaves (if using).
Once the seeds start to splutter, add this seasoning to the cooked pongal and mix well.
Your Pongal is now ready to be served. Enjoy it with chutney, sambar or vada.
Note: you can add chopped ginger and green chili for more flavor or you can also add few cashews for garnish.