This year,January 15 is Makar Sankranti , a very important festival in South India. It marks new beginnings. The previous day too, is celebrated by giving fresh grains and other cereals to elderly married ladies.It symbolises sharing and good will to others.Houses are decorated with colourful rangolis. Lunch is a welcome meal of bajra roti along with stuffed brinjal and moong . Pongal, a rice dish is also prepared on this day. 

Here is the recipe of Pongal for you all. 

INGREDIENTS :

• moong dal 1cup
• rice 1 cup
• cumin 2tsp
• dhania 3tsp
• pepper 12
• salt to taste
• water 8 cups
• ghee 1tbsp +1tsp
• cashew 10
• cloves 5

pongal

gojju

METHOD :

Grind cumin,dhania and pepper together.Take a bowl and wash the rice and moong dal together. Put them in a pressure cooker and add water to it. Put the grind powder,turmeric, one tablespoon of ghee, salt and stir well. Close the lid and allow to cook for one whistle. In a small kadai,heat the remaining ghee, add cloves and cashew nuts. Temper the pongal with it and serve hot with gojju.

To make Gojju :

Gojju can be made in raw or cooked form.

Ingredients for raw gojju :

• tamarind pulp 1cup
• jaggery 1tbsp
• groundnut pwder
• salt to taste
• oil 1tsp
• asafoetida
• turmeric powder 1/4 tsp

METHOD :

Mix all ingredients together. Make seasoning and add to it. Serve it as an accompaniment with pongal.

The cooked gojju can be found here.

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