Sweet Pongal

Sweet Pongal is prepared during Sankranti festival. A delicious mix of Moong dal with rice and jaggery blended with dry fruits, it's tasty and rich. Enjoy !!  I hope it brings a touch of warmth and festive cheer to your home. 

Sweet Pongal 

Ingredients :

• 1 cup Raw Rice
• 1/2 cup Moong Dal/Green Gram Dal
• 1 cup Milk
• 3 cups Jaggery grated ( as per taste)
• 4 tbsp Ghee
• Few cashews/Raisins
• 2 tbsp Dry Coconut (grated)
• 1/2 tsp Elachi pwd
• 1/2 tsp Nutmeg pwd
• 1-2 cloves (opt)
• Saffron (pinch)
• Water

Method : 

In a kadai, add ghee roast dry the green gram dal for a couple of minutes. 

Next cook the rice and moong dal . In a pan, add the jaggery in  water and cook on a low heat till the jaggery melts. 

Once done add the cooked rice and dal. Add milk and stir well. 

Heat ghee and fry the cashew nuts and raisins add to the Pongal. 

Add the powdered cardamoms, cloves,  nutmeg, grated coconut and saffron. 

Mix well and serve this hot Sweet Pongal.

This delightful dish, with its rich flavors of jaggery, ghee, and aromatic spices, is a perfect treat for celebrations or as a comforting dessert. Whether you're preparing it for a festival or simply to indulge in a delicious homemade delight, Sweet Pongal is sure to satisfy your sweet cravings and create memorable moments with loved ones. So, go ahead and savor this traditional South Indian delicacy, happy cooking and enjoy!

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"The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have."

Vince Lombardi

Makara Sankranti / Happy Pongal

Makara Sankranti (Sankramana) is celebrated in the month of Magha when the sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn. It marks the harvest festival and is celebrated across India under different names.

On this auspicious day, people in Karnataka distribute Ellu Bella to family and friends. This traditional mix contains jaggery, sesame seeds, peanuts, dried coconut, and fried gram, along with Sakarare Aachu.

The traditional greeting is:
“Ellu bella thindu, Olle Maathadi”
(ಎಳ್ಳು ಬೆಲ್ಲ ತಿಂದು, ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಮಾತಾಡಿ)

In Maharashtra, people greet each other saying:
“Til gul ghya, goad goad bola”
(Eat sesame seeds and speak sweetly.)

Ellu Bella Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup copra (dried coconut)
• 1 cup hurigadale (fried gram)
• 1 cup peanuts
• 1 cup finely chopped jaggery
• ½ cup white sesame seeds (ellu / til)

Method

1. Dry roast the sesame seeds until golden and keep aside.
2. Roast hurigadale and keep aside.
3. Roast peanuts, remove skin, and split into halves.
4. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
5. Store in an airtight container.

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In the evening, children are seated while a mixture of Ellu Bella, berries (Elchi Hannu / ಎಲಚಿ ಹಣ್ಣು), sugarcane pieces, and coins are gently poured over their heads, followed by an aarti.

This beautiful tradition symbolizes the belief that sweetness should prevail in all walks of life.

May the sun radiate peace, prosperity, and happiness in our lives.

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Happy Sankranti!! 🌞

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