Nihari with bone marrow, served with spicy meat chunks Beef Nihari with Bone Marrow Yuca Frita with garlic sauce, served with parsley Crispy Fried Yuca Fries with Garlic Sauce Tirupati Pongal served with fresh cilantro and peanuts Ven Pongal (Savory Indian Rice and Lentil Porridge) Pizza ai Porcini friss vargányával és mozzarella sajttal White Pizza with Porcini Mushrooms Jar of spiced pickled orange slices Spiced Pickled Orange Slices Norwegian meatballs with brown cheese gravy, served with fresh parsley Norwegian Meatballs in Creamy Brown Cheese Gravy Baked Banana Cake with Raisins, golden brown and sliced Baked Banana Cake with Raisins & Coconut Broccoli leek cream soup served in a ceramic bowl, garnished with broccoli florets and leek rings Creamy Broccoli & Leek Soup (Prebiotic) Ricotta Croissants served on a plate Sweet Ricotta & Honey Croissants Greek hamburger with tzatziki sauce Greek Lamb Burger Turmeric Beef Bhuna served with fresh cilantro Slow-Cooked Turmeric Beef Bhuna Chickpea Pozole served with lime, cilantro, and scallions Hearty Chickpea and Hominy Stew (Pozole con Garbanzos) Tomato Manakish served with fresh herbs Tomato & Onion Manakish Truffle croissant served Gourmet Truffle & Mascarpone Croissants Lavender panna cotta served in a glass Elegant Lavender Panna Cotta Cornish pasty with puff pastry, rich beef filling, crispy golden brown Quick Puff Pastry Cornish Pasties Tarragon mushroom calzone fresh out of the oven Creamy Mushroom & Tarragon Calzone Freshly baked Ginger Fusion Calzone Ginger Fusion Calzone Cinnamon almond latte served Cinnamon Almond Latte Zesty orange ginger curry sauce served in a glass bowl Zesty Orange Ginger Curry Sauce Nihari with bone marrow, served with spicy meat chunks Beef Nihari with Bone Marrow Yuca Frita with garlic sauce, served with parsley Crispy Fried Yuca Fries with Garlic Sauce Tirupati Pongal served with fresh cilantro and peanuts Ven Pongal (Savory Indian Rice and Lentil Porridge) Pizza ai Porcini friss vargányával és mozzarella sajttal White Pizza with Porcini Mushrooms Jar of spiced pickled orange slices Spiced Pickled Orange Slices Norwegian meatballs with brown cheese gravy, served with fresh parsley Norwegian Meatballs in Creamy Brown Cheese Gravy Baked Banana Cake with Raisins, golden brown and sliced Baked Banana Cake with Raisins & Coconut Broccoli leek cream soup served in a ceramic bowl, garnished with broccoli florets and leek rings Creamy Broccoli & Leek Soup (Prebiotic) Ricotta Croissants served on a plate Sweet Ricotta & Honey Croissants Greek hamburger with tzatziki sauce Greek Lamb Burger Turmeric Beef Bhuna served with fresh cilantro Slow-Cooked Turmeric Beef Bhuna Chickpea Pozole served with lime, cilantro, and scallions Hearty Chickpea and Hominy Stew (Pozole con Garbanzos) Tomato Manakish served with fresh herbs Tomato & Onion Manakish Truffle croissant served Gourmet Truffle & Mascarpone Croissants Lavender panna cotta served in a glass Elegant Lavender Panna Cotta Cornish pasty with puff pastry, rich beef filling, crispy golden brown Quick Puff Pastry Cornish Pasties Tarragon mushroom calzone fresh out of the oven Creamy Mushroom & Tarragon Calzone Freshly baked Ginger Fusion Calzone Ginger Fusion Calzone Cinnamon almond latte served Cinnamon Almond Latte Zesty orange ginger curry sauce served in a glass bowl Zesty Orange Ginger Curry Sauce
Tirupati Pongal served with fresh cilantro and peanuts
Spicy Indian rice and mung bean dish

Ven Pongal (Savory Indian Rice and Lentil Porridge)

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Vegetarian & Vegan Dishes Main Courses
Pongal is a South Indian 'porridge' traditionally made during the Pongal harvest festival, but also known as temple food (prasad). 'Ven Pongal' (the savory version) is a creamy blend of overcooked rice and mung beans, made regal by plenty of Ghee (clarified butter), black pepper, and toasted cashews (or peanuts). This isn't a fluffy rice dish, but a dense, rich, comforting meal.
🕒 Prep Time 10 mins
🍳 Cook Time 30 mins
⌛ Total Time 40 mins
🍽️ Servings 4 servings
🔥 Calories 450 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Indian

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Heavy-bottomed pot for cooking
  • Small skillet for tempering spices

Allergen Information

⚠️ Milk
⚠️ Peanut

Instructions

1 ✓

Toast the rice and mung beans in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes until fragrant (do not let them brown).

Tip: Dry roasting adds a nutty aroma to the grains and helps prevent them from becoming slimy.
2 ✓

Rinse, then cook in 4 times the amount of water with salt until completely soft and porridge-like.

Tip: The goal here is a 'mushy' texture, not fluffy grains.
3 ✓

Prepare the spice base (Tadka): heat the Ghee, add the peppercorns, cumin, and peanuts. Once they brown, add the ginger and curry leaves.

Tip: You can leave the peppercorns whole or crush them coarsely. The Ghee will carry the heat of the pepper through the whole dish.
4 ✓

Pour the hot spiced Ghee over the cooked rice mixture, add the grated coconut, and mix thoroughly.

Tip: The amount of Ghee might seem generous, but it gives the dish its signature gloss and flavor.
5 ✓

Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.

Recipe FAQ

It became too thick.
Pongal solidifies as it cools. Add hot water and stir before serving to restore its creamy consistency.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Short Grain Rice
  • 1/2 cup Moong Dal (Split Yellow Mung Beans)
  • 4 tbsp Ghee (Clarified Butter)
  • 1 tsp Whole Black Peppercorns
  • 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
  • 1 inch Ginger (minced)
  • 1/4 cup Peanuts (or Cashews)
  • 10 whole Curry Leaves
  • 2 tbsp Grated Coconut
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 bunch Fresh Cilantro