Rava or Semolina Pongal (ரவா பொங்கல்)

Rava pongal (ரவா பொங்கல்) is a traditional recipe and my aunt used to make it often. This is a type of pongal in which rava or semolina is used instead of raw rice. It is tasty and filling, and can be prepared for breakfast or dinner. Let’s see how to make this pongal.

Ingredients: (Serves two)

Rava or semolina – 1 teacup or 200 ml measure

Moong dhal or split green gram – ¼ teacup or 50 ml measure

Jeera or cumin seeds – 1 teaspoon

Black pepper – ½ teaspoon

Ginger – ½” piece, grated

Salt – to taste

Ghee – 2 tablespoons

Curry leaves – a few
Split cashew nuts – 1 tablespoon (optional)

Rava or Semolina Pongal (ரவா பொங்கல்)

Method: Heat 1 teaspoon of ghee in a kadai and fry moong dhal till it turns light brown. Add ½ teacup (100 ml) of water and cook on low flame till the dhal is cooked partially. Add more water if needed. Once the dhal is ready, switch off the stove.

Coarsely powder jeera and pepper; Keep aside. Roast rava in another kadai till it turns light brown and transfer to a bowl. Boil 2½ teacups of water with salt in the kadai. When it boils, add roasted rava little by little without forming lumps while continuously stirring at the same time. Add in the cooked dhal, remaining ghee, jeera, pepper, curry leaves and grated ginger. Mix well, cover and cook on low flame till the rava is cooked well. You may add 1 tablespoon of split cashew nuts fried in ghee if desired. Mix well and serve hot with coconut chutney, sambar or brinjal-onion kothsu. 

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