How long does Samai Pongal take?

40 minutes from start to finish. That is 10 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking.

How many people does Samai Pongal serve?

4. The ingredient quantities on this page rescale if you are cooking for a different number.

Is Samai Pongal vegetarian?

Yes. No meat, no fish and no egg.

Is Samai Pongal spicy?

It is mild: 1 on our scale of 3. Chilli scales gently when you change the servings, so doubling the recipe does not double the heat.

What do I need to make Samai Pongal?

200 grams Samai (Little Millet), ½ cup Moong Dal, 1 grams Turmeric Powder, 3 grams Black Peppercorns, 8 grams Ginger, 2 grams Curry leaves, and a few more listed on this page.

Do I need a pressure cooker for Samai Pongal?

Yes, this one is cooked under pressure.

How many calories are in Samai Pongal?

About 437 a serving. The full nutrition table is on this page, per serving and for the whole batch.

Samai PongalCook

Samai Pongal

Name: Samai Pongal
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Indian, Tamil Nadu
Ingredients: ½ cup Moong Dal; 500 ml Water, For Rinsing; 15 ml Ghee; 200 grams Samai (Little Millet); 1200 ml Water, For Cooking; 1½ tsp Salt; 1 grams Turmeric Powder; 30 ml Ghee; 1 tsp Cumin; 3 grams Black Peppercorns, Crushed; 8 grams Ginger, Finely Chopped; 2 grams Curry leaves; 18 grams Cashew (half), Halved; 0.5 grams Asafoetida; 1 grams Salt; 15 ml Ghee

40 min
mild
Serves 4

Prep 10 min · Cook 30 min

Start cooking

5 steps, one at a time. Big words for every step, and a timer where a step waits.

Also known as saamai pongal, samai ven pongal, little millet pongal, kutki pongal · Veg · Tiffin, One-pot meals

Tiffin One-pot meals

Samai pongal of little millet and moong dal roasted in ghee, pressure cooked and tempered with pepper and cashews. Mild, serves 4, about 40 minutes.

You’ll need: Pressure Cooker

Good for: Pongal, Rainy Day

Ingredients

14 items

4 people

Moong Dal½ cup
Water, For Rinsing500 ml
Ghee60 ml
Samai (Little Millet)200 grams
Water, For Cooking1200 ml
Salt1½ tsp
Turmeric Powder1 grams
Cumin1 tsp
Black Peppercorns, Crushed3 grams
Ginger, Finely Chopped8 grams
Curry leaves2 grams
Cashew (half), Halved18 grams
Asafoetida0.5 grams
Salt1 grams

Contains: milk, cashew or other tree nuts, wheat.

Nutrition

Per 1 person, and for all 4 people. Worked out from the ingredients, so treat it as a close guide.

Nutrient	Per 1 person	All 4 people
Energy	437kcal	1748kcal
Protein	13g	51g
Carbohydrate	56g	224g
Fat	20g	78g
Fibre	8.8g	35g
Sugar	0.3g	1.2g

Method

1
Rinse the samai and moong dal together with the rinsing water until the water is mostly clear. Drain them well while you finely chop the ginger and crush the peppercorns. Wash the curry leaves and halve the cashews.
Moong DalWater
2
Heat 1 tablespoon ghee in a pressure cooker on medium flame. Add the drained samai and moong dal, and roast for 4 to 5 minutes until the moisture dries and the dal is lightly golden. Add the cooking water, salt and turmeric powder.
GheeSamai (Little Millet)WaterSaltTurmeric Powder
3
Close the cooker and pressure cook for 4 whistles on medium flame. Switch off the flame and let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. Open the cooker when the pressure has fully released; the millet and dal should be soft and easy to mash.
4
Heat 2 tablespoons ghee in a small kadai on low flame. Add the cumin and crushed pepper, and fry for 1 minute until they sizzle. Add the ginger, curry leaves, cashews and asafoetida, and fry for 2 to 3 minutes until the cashews are golden.
GheeCuminBlack PeppercornsGingerCurry leavesCashew (half)Asafoetida
5
Add the tempering, extra salt and 1 tablespoon ghee to the cooker. Cook on low flame for 2 minutes, stirring until the pongal is soft and creamy. Serve hot.
SaltGhee

Before you start

How long does Samai Pongal take?: 40 minutes from start to finish. That is 10 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking.
How many people does Samai Pongal serve?: 4. The ingredient quantities on this page rescale if you are cooking for a different number.
Is Samai Pongal vegetarian?: Yes. No meat, no fish and no egg.
Is Samai Pongal spicy?: It is mild: 1 on our scale of 3. Chilli scales gently when you change the servings, so doubling the recipe does not double the heat.
What do I need to make Samai Pongal?: 200 grams Samai (Little Millet), ½ cup Moong Dal, 1 grams Turmeric Powder, 3 grams Black Peppercorns, 8 grams Ginger, 2 grams Curry leaves, and a few more listed on this page.
Do I need a pressure cooker for Samai Pongal?: Yes, this one is cooked under pressure.
How many calories are in Samai Pongal?: About 437 a serving. The full nutrition table is on this page, per serving and for the whole batch.

Tips from other cooks

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