Savoury Pongal aka Ven Pongal

Venn Pongal is a traditional dish made during the festival Pongal Or Sankranti. Although it can be eaten any time of the day for breakfast, lunch dinner, snacks but preferred over breakfast.

It is a South Indian version of North Indian "Khichdi: but believe me when i say that it tastes much better than our moong dal ki khichdi ( me being a pakki north indian... :) )

So Ven Pongal is rice and moong dal cooked together with cumin and black pepper corn with a delicious tempering on top.

Ingredients :-

Moon dal	500 gm
Rice	500 gm
Salt	to  taste
Ghee	250 gm
Cumin seeds	30 gm
Whole Pepper corns	30 gm
Cashew Nuts	100 gm
Curry Leaves	50 gm

Method :-

In a lagan take moong dal and rice , add water and bring to a boil. Lower the flame and cover.

Keep adding hot water to this every 7-10 minutes .

Cook for about 40-45 minutes until dal and rice are properly cooked.

For the tadka or tempering take ghee in a pan, add cumin seeds, peppercorn, cashewnuts, curry leaves and add this to pongal.

Serve hot on a banana leaf with coconut chutney and sambhar (optional).