Traditional breakfast from South India, Pongal is made with rice, moong dal and spices. Healthy and comforting pongal that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
A slight variation from the regular pongal is the Masala Pongal. I experimented by adding what ever ingredients came to my mind. The final recipe was amazingly good. The best part about this pongal is you don’t need a side. Just a simple ginger or a tomato pickle will go well.
This Masala Pongal can be made in less than 30 minutes. Tastes best when eaten hot.
More pongal recipes from the blog –
Instant Pot Sweet Pongal recipe
Side dish which can be served with pongal –
Carrot Capsicum pachadi (chutney)
If you tried this recipe, don’t forget to give a star rating below. For more recipes and to see what’s cooking in my kitchen, follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
Masala Pongal Recipe:
(Serves 3 to 4)
Ingredients:
- Rice – 1 cup
- Moong dal ( Pesara Pappu) – ½ cup
- chopped onion – ¼th cup
- Bell pepper (Capsicum)- 1 ( I used red bell pepper)
- Crushed black pepper corns – about ¼ th to ½ tsp
- Cumin seeds- 1 ½ tsp
- Coriander powder- ½ tsp
- Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
- Turmeric powder – ¼th tsp
- Slit Green chilly – 3 to 4
- Chopped Ginger- 1 inch
- Cashew nuts- about 8
- Few curry leaves
- Grated coconut- 2 tbsps
- Salt to taste
- Lemon juice to taste
- Oil- 2 tbsps
- Hing – 2 pinches
- Water- 2.5 cups + 1.5 cups
Procedure:
- Wash the rice and dal. Add 2.5 cups of water and pressure cook till soft. Don’t make it mushy. Wait till the pressure comes down.
- In a large pan, do the seasoning by heating the oil. Add the mustard seeds and let them crackle. Add the cumin seeds, chopped ginger, green chilly, curry leaves, black pepper, turmeric powder cashews and hing. Fry for a minute.
- Add the chopped onion and bell pepper and ¼ th tsp of salt. Saute till onion is soft.
- Add the coriander powder and coconut. Fry for few seconds.
- Add the 1.5 cups of water and necessary salt and bring it to a boil.
- Now add the cooked moong dal and rice mixture. Stir gently and cook till everything comes together.
- Finally add the lemon juice and chopped coriander leaves. and check for seasoning.
- Masala Pongal is ready and can be served as is or with some pickle on the side.
Please Note:
- Depending on the kind of rice and pressure cooker you use the amount of water required to cook the rice may defer.
- Make sure you use just quarter cup of onion, if not the onion will over power the pongal.
Sushma
Inspired by your blog, I prepared both Masala pongal and Sweet pongal…great going Madhu…
Madhavi
Thank you Sushma. Hope you enjoyed both the recipes.
Gayathri Ramanan
looks tempting…love the slight twist to the regular pongal…
Yes Cook
Mouthwatering.
Thanks for sharing.
Vidya Chandrahas
Delicious one pot meal..great recipe..love it.
Resna Nishad
Pongal looks so tasty…
Sona S
Pongal looks really delicious and flavorful.
Priya Anandakumar
Very nicely made masala pongal, love the addition of coconuts, I will try it the next time…
Priya Suresh
Very interesting and inviting masala pongal.
Sathya Priya
YUmmy pongal madhu.You have a very nice blog.Happy following you
Madhavi K
Thanks Priya!
Sapana Behl
Pongal looks delicious !