Foxtail Millet Sweet Pongal | Thinai Sakkarai Pongal | Thinai Pongal Recipe

Pongal Festival – Thamizhar thirunaal – Uzhavar(Farmer) thirunaal is a tribute to Nature. Do we really love nature ? Before searching the possibilities of life in other planets, let us make it possible in our own planet.

Together, let us contribute to Green revolution. Let us not suffocate our mother Earth by dumping loads of plastic on her. Let her breathe peacefully. Our first step – Just own a big shopper bag(non-plastic) and carry it for shopping. This way, we can support reducing millions of plastic bags usage. Let us inspire others… Happy Pongal 🙂

Thinai(Foxtail Millet) is best suited for sweet recipes. Try traditional pongal recipes using millets to make it more nutritious. Last year I posted Little Millet(Saamai) sweet pongal using milk. Click here for recipe.

Preparation

1.Slightly dry fry moong dal(paasi parupu). Wash thinai millet twice and separate the stones(Scroll for Tips).2.Add moong dal to it, rinse it once and soak both in water(4 times) for 10 mins. Add it to cooker and let it start to boil.3.Once it starts to boil, close the lid and pressure cook for 3 whistles. Once pressure releases naturally, open the lid and stir well.4.In a separate pan, add grated jaggery, water and a generous pinch of cardamom powder. Let jaggery dissolve well and the syrup bubble up.5.No need to wait for any consistency. Just filter the syrup and add to cooked millet.6.Mix well and let it boil well. In 5 mins, add 2 tbsp of ghee and mix well. Switch off in just 1 minute.7.In a separate pan, add a tbsp of ghee, fry cashews and raisins in medium flame.8.Add ghee-fried cashews and raisins to pongal and mix well.

Thithikkum Thinai Pongal is ready !! Serve hot/warm…

Tips/Tricks

• Millets might have tiny sand and stones. Take water immersed millets in a vessel. Hold one end of the vessel rim and slightly lift up. While you shake the vessel to and fro using one hand, gather the millets in the other palm and transfer to another vessel in batches. In this way, the sand settles in the bottom to discard easily. Repeat this process twice or thrice until no sand settles down.
• I forgot to add ghee fried grated coconut. Do add when adding cashews and raisins.. It elevates the taste and nutrition.
• You shall top with dates while serving.