Puli pongal

This is a traditional Tamilnadu recipe."Puli" means tamarind in Tamil.The main ingredients are broken raw rice and tamarind.Unlike the usual pongal this dish will not be so mushy.

Here is the recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups - broken raw rice

small lemon size - tamarind(soaked in water)

1 tsp - mustard seeds

1 tsp - Channa dal

5 - dry red chillies

You can reduce the number of chillies according to your spice level.

1/4 tsp - asafoetida powder

1/2 tsp - turmeric powder

1/4 cup - gingelly/sesame oil

Don't substitute with any other oil because sesame oil adds a unique flavour to this dish.

a sprig of curry leaves

salt to taste

Method:

Puli pongal can be made either in a kadai or pressure cooker.I prefer to use a pressure cooker /pressure pan because it is a lot more easier.

Before you actually start making the dish,keep the tamarind juice ready measured up.For every cup of broken rice add 2 1/4 cups of tamarind juice.

Heat oil in a pressure pan.Add the mustard seeds.When it splutters add the channa dal.When the channa dal is lightly brown, add turmeric powder,asafoetida,dry red chillies and curry leaves.

Then add the tamarind juice.When it begins to boil,add the broken rice and the required amount of salt.

Close the lid of the pressure pan.Cook for 2 whistles.

After opening the pressure pan just mix everything together.

Serve with cut raw onions.