VENN PONGAL - A COMFORTING NAVARATRI DISH
PONGAL IN FESTIVALS & TRADITIONS
Navaratri is a time of devotion, celebration, and of course, delicious food offerings to the Goddess. Among the many traditional dishes prepared during this festival, Venn Pongal holds a special place. This warm, wholesome South Indian delicacy is not just a festive offering but also the ultimate comfort food—creamy, lightly spiced, and soul-satisfying.
WHAT IS VENN PONGAL?
Venn Pongal is a savory rice and moong dal porridge cooked with ghee, black pepper, cumin, ginger, and curry leaves. It’s often offered as naivedyam (sacred food) to the Goddess during Navaratri and served in temples as prasadam. Its simplicity, aroma, and melt-in-mouth texture make it a favorite breakfast or dinner dish at home as well.
EVERYDAY COMFORT DISH
Prep Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 25 mins
Servings : 03
INGREDIENTS:
Raw Rice – 1 cup
Moong Dal (split yellow gram) – ½ cup
Ghee – 3 to 4 tbsp
Black Pepper – 1 tsp (crushed coarsely)
Cumin Seeds – 1 tsp
Ginger – 1 tbsp (finely chopped)
Green Chilies – 1 (optional, slit)
Curry Leaves – 1 sprig
Cashew Nuts – 8 to 10
Salt – to taste
Water – 4 cups
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Roast the dal
Dry roast moong dal for 2–3 minutes until lightly aromatic (don’t let it brown).
2. Cook rice & dal
Wash rice and roasted dal together.
Pressure cook with 4 cups water until soft and mushy.
3. Prepare the tempering
Heat ghee in a small pan.
Fry cashews till golden, then add cumin seeds, crushed pepper, ginger, curry leaves, and green chili.
4. Mix & finish
Pour this tempering into the cooked rice-dal mixture.
Add salt and stir well to get a creamy, porridge-like consistency.
Adjust water if needed and let it simmer for 2 minutes.
TIPS TO MAKE CREAMY PONGAL
SERVING SUGGESTION
Serve Venn Pongal hot with coconut chutney, sambar, or simply a dollop of ghee on top. It’s perfect as a festive offering, weekend breakfast, or a light dinner.
WHY IT'S PERFECT FOR NAVARATRI:
Made with satvik ingredients (no onion, no garlic).
Easy to digest and nourishing.
A dish that combines simplicity with divine flavor.
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IN CONCLUSION
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