To begin making the Ven Pongal Recipe; we will first cook the rice and lentils in the pressure cooker. Heat the cooker on medium heat, add a tablespoon of ghee. Add the washed moong dal and roast the dal in the ghee for about a minute.
Once the dal is roasted, add the rice, salt and 5 cups of water. Cover the pressure cooker, place the weight on and cook until you hear a whistle. After the first whistle, turn the heat to low and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. After 3 to 4 minutes, turn off the heat and allow the pressure to release naturally.
While the pressure is releasing, heat a tablespoon of ghee in a small pan, add in the cashew nuts and roast on low heat until lightly browned. Next add in a teaspoon of cumin seeds, 2 teaspoons of pounded black pepper, a tablespoon of grated ginger, the roughly torn curry leaves. Turn off the heat and stir all the ingredients in the remaining heat.
Once the pressure has released from the cooker, we will add in the prepared seasoning into the rice. Stir the seasoning into the rice until well
Stir the prepared seasoning and an additional 2 to 3 tablespoons of ghee into the rice. Stir until all the ingredients and the ghee are well combined into the Ven Pongal.
Spoon the Ven Pongal onto a rounded cup and press the rice in. Invert the cup onto a plate you voila you get a cup of Ven Pongal on your platter. Pick a cashew piece from the Pongal and place on the top to decorate.
Serve the Ven Pongal for the Pongal Festival or a Sunday Breakfast along with Sakkarai Pongal, Vada Sambar and Kathirikai Gothsu – Eggplant in a Tangy Gravy.