Thai Pongal is a Tamil harvest festival. Thai Pongal is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Tamil people in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the Indian Union Territory of Puducherry, Sri Lanka, as well as Tamils worldwide. The festival is celebrated on January 14 th every year and is also one of the longest celebrations in the Tamil calendar, spread over four days.Thai Pongal corresponds to Makara Sankranthi, the winter harvest festival celebrated throughout India.
The best of South Indian dishes are relished during the harvest festival of Pongal making the occasion a gourmet’s delight. Pongal is also celebrated as a thanksgiving festival for various Hindu deities. The festivities begin with `Bhogi’ and the first day is considered to be a prelude to the celebrations that follow. `Bhogi’ is observed as a thanksgiving occasion to Lord `Indra’, the God of Heavens. The next day is the `Pongal’ day, which is celebrated to pay respects to `Surya’, the Sun God. It is the day of a new beginning and makes people go for joyful celebrations. As a mark of respect to the cattle, the farmer’s best friends, the third day of Pongal festival is celebrated as `Maattu Pongal’. `Kaanum Pongal’ marks the end of the four-day celebrations.
Pongal also signifies a dish that is sweet and known as Sakkarai Pongal or Chakkara Pongal made with rice and lentil. Besides rice and milk the ingredients of this sweet dish include cardamom, jaggery, raisins, Green gram (split), and cashew nuts. Cooking is done in sunlight, usually in a porch or courtyard, as the dish is dedicated to the Sun God. The cooking is done in a clay pot that is decorated with colored patterns called kolam. Pongal has two variants, one sweet and one savory. Cooking pongal is a traditional practice at Hindu temples during any part of the Temple Festival in Tamil Nadu. Source : Wikipedia
This is my very first attempt of making sweet Pongal, and trust me it was the most divine experience by far. The house literally smells jeaven while making this. I have a strong sweet tooth hence when i decided to make Pongal today, it was just Sakkarai Pongal in my head. I researched a lot over net for the correct recipe, and everywhere the recipe had some minor difference, but the basic method was the same for both sweet and savory pongal. Hence i took the measurements as per my requirement and made this amazingly delicious Sakkarai Pongal aka Chakkara Pongal.
| Prep Time | 20 minutes |
| Cook Time | 40 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
|
- 1 cup rice newly harvested
- 1/2 cup moong dal split green lentl
- 2 cups water
- 3/4 cup jaggery grated and tightly packed
- 1 tsp Cardamom Powder
- 4 tbsp ghee clarified butter
- 1 pinch salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- handful fried cashews and raisins
Ingredients
|
|
- Soak grated jaggery in 1 cup of water and keep aside.
- Dry roast moong dal in a wok till aromatic and light brown in color.
- Collect the roasted moong dal with rice and wash through clean running water. Collect the washed dal rice mix in a pressure cooker.
- Add around 1 cup of water or adequate amount of water as needed in the cooker with a pinch of salt and pressure cook till 3-4 whistles.
- Turn off the gas and wait till the pressure from the cooker releases completely.
- Meanwhile heat 2 tbsp ghee in a wok and fry cashews and raisins and collect aside.
- In the same wok, heat jaggery water till it comes to a boil.
- Strain the jaggery water through a sieve to remove impurities.
- Trasnfer the strained jaggery water back to the wok.
- Meanwhile open the lid of the pressure cooker and collect the coked dal rice mix in a bowl.
- Mash them well with the help of a potato masher.
- Add the mashed dal rice mix to the jaggery water and cook in low flame.
- Add milk, cardamom powder and fried cashews and raisins and cover lid to cook for another 10-12 mins. in low flame.
- The mix will turn mushy and thick, stir well and turn off the gas and add 2 tbsp ghee and mix well.
- Garnish with some more fried cashews and raisins and serve hot!
If you like this traditional Sakkarai Pongal Recipe then try making at home and celebrate the festival with joy and happiness. Do share your feedback with me in comments below.
Happy Pongal Everyone!
Love : Shaheen
