Sakkarai Pongal / Sweet Pongal

Sakkarai Pongal or Sweet Pongal is a sweet that is made in south Indian cuisine. It is a preparation made with rice and Jaggery, flavored with cardamom and garnished with cashew nuts.

Things you need:

1. 1/2 cup - Rice 
2. 1/4 cup - Moong dal 
3. 1 cup - Jaggery
4. 10 - Cashew nuts
5. 10 to 12 - raisins 
6. 1/4 teaspoon - Cardamom 
7. 1/4 cup - Ghee/clarified butter

Method:

1. In a heavy bottom pan, dry roast rice and dal separately till it becomes slightly hot. (Ensure the color doesn't change, else it would taste bitter)
2. Then cook rice and dal with 2 1/2 cups of water. Mash it well and keep it aside
3. In another pan heat 1/2 cup of water and add Jaggery / brown sugar to it. When it melts, filter it to remove impurities if any
4. Pour the melted Jaggery back into the pan and allow it to boil for 10 minutes
5. Now add the cooked rice with the melted Jaggery and mix well
6. Cook for sometime after adding rice till everything gets mixed well and starts to leave the sides of the pan
7. Now add cardamom powder and mix well
8. In another small pan, heat 1/4 cup of ghee to fry raisins and cashew nuts and add it to the rice along with ghee
9. Cook for another 5 mins till everything gets blended well
10. Serve hot