Sweet Pongal Recipe | Sakkarai Pongal

Sweet Pongal is a traditional South Indian dessert prepared during festive occasions, especially Makara Sankranthi, the harvest festival. After cooking, Sweet Pongal is offered to the Sun God as a gesture of gratitude for a bountiful harvest.

Pongal festival is celebrated every year in the month of January. Sweet Pongal, also known as Sakkarai Pongal, is made using rice, jaggery, milk, ghee, and aromatic spices.

This is a one-pot dessert that is nutritious, protein-rich, and wholesome. Other popular variations include Kalkandu Pongal, Paal Pongal, and Ven Pongal, each prepared in a different style.

Here is the traditional method to prepare Sweet Pongal.

Ingredients:

Raw rice – 1 cup

Moong dal – ¼ cup

Jaggery – 150 g

Milk – 1 glass

Water – 2½ glasses (approx.)

Ghee – 3 tbsp

Cashew nuts – 10

Dry grapes (raisins) – 10

Coconut (shredded or sliced) – 2 tbsp

Cardamom – 3 (crushed)

Edible camphor – a small pinch

Method

• Wash the rice and moong dal well. Add them to a pressure cooker along with 2 glasses of water and 1 glass of milk.
• Pressure cook for 3 whistles. Switch off the stove and keep aside.
• In a saucepan, add the jaggery pieces and ½ cup water.
• Heat until the jaggery melts completely and reaches a slightly thick syrup consistency. Strain if required to remove impurities.
• Heat 3 tbsp ghee in a pan. Fry the cashew nuts and raisins until golden brown. Remove and keep aside.
• In the same pan, add the shredded coconut and roast until aromatic and lightly golden. Switch off the stove and keep aside.
• Mash the cooked rice and moong dal mixture gently using a ladle or masher.
• Add the jaggery syrup to the mashed rice mixture along with fried nuts, raisins, and crushed cardamom. Mix well.
• Cook on low flame for about 5 minutes, stirring continuously until the jaggery blends well and the pongal thickens.
• Finally, add a pinch of edible camphor and roasted coconut. Mix well.
• Serve hot, drizzled with extra ghee if desired.

For more Pongal recipes, click here to view:

👉 Aval Pongal