Spicy Pongal(Kara Pongal)

Like any other Staunch Follower of the Festivals or Rituals I too Aimed at Celebrating and making some Traditional Dishes which Befits the Occasion...One such dish was Pongal which I prepared on Pongal or Sankranthi and some how failed to Snag my Attention to Post..Well like a saying Better late than Never this dish finally got Posted with all its Freshness and Spicy Flavors Intact...


Pongal is a dish made Exclusively  on special occasions taking equal share of Rice and Dal together...Sweet and spicy are two different varieties which are widely popular in south India..


Ingredients For Pongal:
1)1 Cup Rice
2)1 Cup Green Gram Dal(Hesaru Bele)
3)2 Tbsp Ghee
4)1/2 cup  Freshly Coconut
5)1 Tbsp Jeera/Cumin
6)1 Tbsp Black pepper
7)3 to 4 green chillies
8)1 tsp mustard seeds
9)curry leaves
10)salt as per taste
11)Pinch of Hing/Asafoetida and Haldi/Turmeric
12)8 to 10 Cashews


Ingredients for Tamarind Rasam(Gojju)
 1)1/2 lemon size tamarind soaked in a Luke warm water
2)2 to 3 tsp red chilly powder
3)Hing/Asafoetida
4)1 tsp mustard seeds
5)2 to 3 Split red chillies/Curry leaves
6)Jaggery/Brown sugar
7)2 tsp vegetable oil
8)Salt as per taste


Method:Pongal
1)Wash Rice and Dal properly and pressure cook until it gets crumbled by adding a teaspoon  of oil and Haldi (Turmeric)
2)Grind Jeera and Pepper and keep it aside
3) Take ghee in a kadai,add mustard seeds when the ghee gets little warm, add  cashews  split green chillies,curry leaves,
4)When mustard starts to splutter add freshly grounded jeera and pepper,haldi and hing
5)Roast until it oozes a fine aroma and Cashews turns light golden brown in color. 
6)Add rice and dal(pressure cooked) and give it  a nice mix(until the masala gets mixed with the spices)
7)Add salt according to the taste,freshly grated coconut,give it a nice mix and switch off the flame.

                                      Spicy Pongal!!!


Method :Tamarind Rasam(Gojju) 
1) Squeeze the tamarind juice and dilute it according to the required consistency
2)Get this tamarind juice to a boil,add red chilly powder,hing,salt and jaggery/brown sugar(Check the seasoning)
3)Take oil in a small kadai,add mustard seeds,split red chillies and curry leaves
4)When mustard starts to splutter switch off the flame and add this tadka to the tamarind Rasam.
5)Serve hot with Spicy Pongal..

                                Tamarind Rasam!!

                    Spicy Pongal Served with Tamarind Rasam!!!