A very delicious rich and creamy Sakkarai aka Sweet Pongal in which rice and split moong is cooked to perfection.
Sakkarai Pongal
There has to be a Pongal recipe continuing my Festival recipes series since last two days. After Sankranti’s Masala Khichdi, Lohri’s Murmura Chikki, of course here comes Pongal.
Pongal is the most famous harvest festival in South India and is celebrated for a number of four days. There are different ways of celebrating the festival in each Southern State of India.
I made the sweet Pongal on the weekend and we all loved this sweet and flavorful dish after the meal as our dessert. Do you see the new props in my pictures?? Well, they are the new addition to my kitchen and are gifted by my younger brother. He got everyone gifts after getting his first salary as a Research engineer at Samsung in Bangalore.
When it comes to giving gifts to me, I keep giving the family and friends all the hints about what a food blogger would love to have in gifts. Thankfully he did listen to my hints over the phone and gave me these amazing props from Sanjeev Kapoor’s. There was a Sari too but I love the props more 🙂
Ingredients needed to make Sakkarai Pongal
- Rice: Basmati rice or any kind of rice can be used to make Sakkarai Pongal.
- Split yellow moong dal: Adds a nice flavor and texture to the Pongal.
- Ghee: Pongal tastes best in ghee.
- Cashew nuts: Cashew nuts tastes amazing in Pongal.
- Jaggery: Traditionally jaggery is used to make Pongal and it tastes best with jaggery only, If you want you can use date palm jaggery or brown sugar.
- Spices: Cardamom and nutmeg powder for flavorings. Sometimes edible camphor is also added to the Pongal.
How to make Sakkarai Pongal?
Step 1. Cook Rice and Dal-Heat a tablespoon of ghee in a pan and roast the cashew nuts until golden. Remove and set aside.
Dissolve the jaggery in 1 cup of warm water. Strain and set aside. In a pressure cooker add 1 tablespoon ghee and split moong dal. Roast until the dal turns light golden in color.
Into the same cooker add rice and 4 cups of water. Pressure cook for about 3-4 whistles.
Step 2. Add sugar and Spices– Let the pressure release by itself and once done open the cooker. Add cardamom and nutmeg powder and jaggery water. Let it cook on slow until thick and creamy.
Add the cashews into the Pongal. Serve warm and enjoy.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the Sakkarai Pongal with lots of ghee and Ven Pongal. Serve it warm and it tastes just amazing.
Like Sakkarai Pongal, try these recipes…
Looking for more such yummy dessert recipes to get some ideas for your snacking? Do not miss my Bombay Karachi Halwa and Sweet Potato Halwa and the best ones’ Balushahi.
*If you ever try this recipe don’t forget to share your photos with me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter or tag me on Instagram @cookingwithsapana using the hashtag #cookingwithsapana and stay connected* I would love to see your creations from my space!!
Sakkarai Pongal
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice
- 1/4 cup split yellow moong dal
- 2 tablespoon ghee
- 1/4 cup cashew nuts
- 1 cup jaggery, grated
- 5 cups water
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
Instructions
- Heat a tablespoon of ghee in a pan and roast the cashew nuts until golden. Remove and set aside.
- Dissolve the jaggery in 1 cup of warm water. Strain and set aside.
- In a pressure cooker add 1 tablespoon ghee and split moong dal. Roast until the dal turns light golden in color.
- Into the same cooker add rice and 4 cups of water. Pressure cook for about 3-4 whistles.
- Let the pressure release by itself and once done open the cooker.
- Add cardamom and nutmeg powder and jaggery water. Let it cook on slow until thick and creamy.
- Add the cashews into the Pongal. Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
- You may add raisins, almonds and any other nuts of your choice.
- Normally edible camphor is added to make it more flavorful.
Nutrition
This is my post on the theme “Festival Recipes”. Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing this BM#84
Always let me know how these recipes turned out in the comments below and give a ★ rating. I will be so excited to hear how you enjoyed your Sakkarai Pongal and please do share your tips and tricks with me.
Don’t forget that you can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.
Best Regards,
Sapana Behl
Beautiful props and congrats to your brother on his first job. Sankranti or Pongal is incomplete with this mouthwatering sweet. Love the color of pongal. My jaggery was light yellowish brown and so was my pongal 🙁
For south Indians, pongal is incomplete without sakkarai pongal. And those props looks fabulous.
Lovely propos and lucky for you. Love pongal to bits and you made it perfectly.
Congratulations dear… hahhaha I love the naughtiness when u said u got the saree but u loved props…. well food bloggers are crazyyyyyyyy
lovely pongal served in beautiful bowls. Congratulations to your brother.
pongal looks so rich and creamy Sapana. I love pongal in all the forms.
Perfect pics. The props sure did the recipe proud
Hee! we bloggers will love props anytime. Look beautiful! Both the props and the pongal.
What a lovely creamy and rich dessert and so fragrant too with the addition of nutmeg and cardamom.I love your presentation.
Sakkarai pongal looks so yummy. Love the entire setup and the pictures.
Beautiful presentation..and the pongal looks awesome
Hahaha we food bloggers are becoming greedy right ? Me too keep hinting family members what I want for my blog sweet pongal looks so rich and delicious love to try one day.
Hi sapana,
Except me, no one likes sweet at home.loved the gift and the way you have presented the Pongal.
I always think, only blessed ones get gifts. And you are blessed to have a brother like that. Congratulations to him and wishing him a success. And same pinch, I too am blessed with. A brother who keeps giving me my favourite gifts and he knows me very well. My most of kitchen equipments are his gifts including Sanjeev Kapoor’s magic pans.
Beautiful Pics Sapana. Perfectly done Pongal makes me drool!
Congrats to your brother and so sweet of him!..Sakkarai pongal looks so divine!
I have not cooked it but surely will taste great
Looks very delicious dear.
Love your new props. The pongal also looks super creamy and tempting.
Beautiful props. Congratulations to your brother. The pongal looks creamy and delicious.
Looks delicious, pongal with jaggery does taste good.Nice props
Looks so delicious. Love it… Brilliant photography
The Pongal looks perfect and great consistency just the way we like it at home. Beautiful images.
Congrats to your brother sapana, props look too good!! Sarkarai pongal looks delicious, auspicious way to inaugurate new props too!! 🙂