MORIYO VEN PONGAL, SAMA RICE VEN PONGAL, CHAMA ARI VEN PONGAL

Ven Pongal is a light and healthy dish made out of rice and moongdal.  I have already posted the Dalia Ven Pongal.  Now I am presenting the Moriyo Ven Pongal or Sama rice ven pongal, chama ari ven pongal, bhagar ven pongal called by various name in different languages.  This dish is served hot with sambar and chutney.

Let us look at the recipe now:

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Samo rice (moriyo, chama, sanwa, bhagar)
3 tbsp moong dal
1/2 tbsp whole pepper
1/2 tsp crushed pepper
1/2 tsp crushed cumin seeds
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 small piece of ginger cut into julienne
2 tbsp ghee
2 tbsp grated fresh coconut (optional)
21/4 cup water.
4-5 cashewnuts broken into pieces.
a pinch of asafoetida
salt

Method:

Dry roast the moongdal till nice aroma comes out.  remove from the kadai and allow to cool. Mix the samo rice and moongdal, wash properly.  Heat the pressure cooker, add 1 tbsp ghee, fry the cashew nuts and keep aside.  Add the remaining ghee and add cumin seeds and crushed pepper corns, whole pepper corns, asafoetida, ginger.  Add the washed samo rice and dal.  Add the water, salt, turmeric powder, grated coconut.  Bring to boil.  Close the cooker and cook the same till one whistle comes.  switch off gas.
When the pressure comes down, transfer it in a bowl.  serve hot with coconut chutney and sambar.

Variation:    You can fry the coconut along with cashewnuts  till slightly brown and add to it.