Easy Ven pongal or Ghee pongal

Ven pongal or Ghee pongal is one of the famous breakfast in Tamilnadu. This is such a easy and comfort food. It tastes amazing with sambhar or chutney. There are only two steps to make this delicious breakfast. Cook dal and rice and then temper with some seasoning. On any lazy day if you want to make something quick, you can always go for this one.  

Yields : 2-3 servings

Ingredients:

1. Raw rice- 1 cup

2. Moong dal- 1/4 cup

3. Water+Milk- 4 to 4 1/2 cups in 50:50 ratio

4. Ghee- 2-3 tbsp + 2 tsp

5. Salt- to taste

To temper :

6. Curry leaves- 1 sprig

7. Whole black pepper- 2 tsp

8. Ginger- 1/2 tbsp finely chopped (optional)

9. Green chillies- 2 slit

10. Cashews- 8-10

11. Cumin seeds- 2 tsp

Method:

1. Wash and soak the rice along with moong dal for 20 mins.

2. Place a pressure cooker and add the soaked rice and moong dal. Add 4 to 4 1/2 cups of water and milk with required salt. Pressure cook for 4-5 whistles unitl it is well cooked. Switch off the flame and let it cool. Once the pressure releases, open the lid and roughly smash the cooked rice and dal with a spoon.

3. In a pan add 2 tsp ghee and add the ingredients one by one under 'to temper' table. Add curry leaves and then add pepper. Once it splutter, add ginger and saute until raw smell goes. Add green chillies, saute for a min. Roast the cashews until golden brown and saute cumin seed for few secs. Make sure not to burn the cumin seeds as it turns the whole pongal taste down. Switch off the flame. Finally add this with pongal along with 2-3 tbsp ghee and mix well. 

If you like more ghee in pongal, you can add 2 more tbsps. 

Serve and enjoy the delicious pongal with sambhar or coconut chutney.