Varagu Pongal Recipe | Kodo Millet Pongal Recipe
Varagu Pongal is a traditional South Indian dish made with Kodo Millet, also called varagu in Tamil. It's a wholesome and nourishing dish seasoned with aromatic spices. This can be enjoyed for breakfast or during festive occasions. It's a healthy alternative to rice-based dishes, making it a great option for people looking to reduce carbs intake. Follow the step by step instructions to make best tasting Varagu Pongal.
Servings2
Ingredients
- ½ cup varagu rice
- 3 tablespoon moong dal
- 1 and ¼ cups water
- 5 cashews broken
- 1 teaspoon ghee
- salt to taste
To temper :
- 1 teaspoon oil
- ½ teaspoon pepper whole or crushed roughly
- ½ teaspoon jeera whole or crushed roughly
- few curry leaves
- 1 green chillies
- ½ teaspoon ginger chopped finely
- ⅛ teaspoon hing
Instructions
- Dry roast moong dal till golden brown.
- Transfer to pressure cooker, then Rinse the millet well, drain water and add it to cooker.
- Add water and pressure cook for 3-4 whistles in medium flame. Switch off.
- Once pressure releases, mash up rice and dal well with a ladle.
- Now get ready with the tempering items. Heat oil in a pan – add the items listed under ‘ temper’ let it splutter.
- Then fry cashews in ghee and transfer both tempering and fried cashews to the pongal.
- Give a quick stir.
- Serve hot with a drizzle of ghee on top along with chutney and sambar.
Notes
- Roasting moong dal – Slightly roast the moong dal before cooking it to enhance its flavor and give the pongal a deeper, nuttier taste.
- Adjusting water – You can add a little more water if you want your pongal to be more runny. It will start to thicken with time so adjust accordingly.
- Pressure cooking – Make sure to cook pongal in medium flame to avoid overcooking the millet and dal. 3-4 whistles are usually enough.
- Tempering – Allow the oil to heat up before adding the spices for tempering. This will help release their essential oils and enhance the dish’s flavor.
- Ghee – Drizzling a spoonful of ghee over the pongal just before serving adds a rich flavor. You can also garnish it with extra cashews for a more appealing look.
Nutrition Facts
Varagu Pongal Recipe | Kodo Millet Pongal Recipe
Amount Per Serving (150 g)
Calories 338
Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Trans Fat 0.01g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 6mg2%
Sodium 93mg4%
Potassium 141mg4%
Carbohydrates 53g18%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 12g24%
Vitamin A 53IU1%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 26mg3%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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