Chakara Pongal/Sweet Pongal

                                 Chakara Pongal/Sweet Pongal

As the name goes for this dish, it’s a sweet relish. Sweet pongal is a traditional dish and is a combo of rice, moong dal and jaggery/gund/vellam along with milk, ghee and a mixture of aromatic spices. In southern part of India, in villages it is believed that when the milk boils, to its brim is a good sign for a new year to begin with prosperity. My mom used to make this sweet pongal in a vengala panai otherwise called a brass vessel .The vessel would be decorated with haldi, kumkum and Sugar cane pieces, turmeric pods tied to it on the pongal day. When the milk boils my brother and me would shout on our highest voices "Pongalo Pongal" with joy. I did not carry my vengala panai here, given during my wedding, Mine was a pressure cooker pongal.My daughter had fun screaming "Pongalo Pongal" .Here you go with the recipe.

Chakara  Pongal/Sweet Pongal

Ingredients

Rice 1Cup

Moong Dal ¼ Cup

Jaggery/Gund 1 Cup

Milk 2 Cups

Water 1 Cup

Ghee ½ Cup

Cardamom Pod -3 Powdered

Clove -3 Powdered

Nutmeg/Jathikai -1/2 Spoon Powdered

Saffron a pinch

To Garnish Roast the following in 1 Tsp Ghee

Cashews -2 Tsp

 Raisins - 2 Tsp

Almonds -2 Tsp

Method

1. Wash the rice, moong dal and mix it along with the milk, water and saffron in a pressure cooker and leave it for 4 whistles

2. In a pan mix the jaggrey with little water and boil it until it starts frothing and begin to form a thick consistency.

3.Smash nicely with a ladle the cooked rice and dal and add the jaggery consistency ,ghee ,powdered cardamom, clove and nutmeg to that , keep stirring it on a low flame until the pongal reaches a semi solid consistency and switch it off.

4. Garnish it with Cashew, raisins and Almonds.Voila that’s about it Enjoy!!!!