How long does Varagu Pongal take?

35 minutes from start to finish. That is 10 minutes of preparation and 25 minutes of cooking.

How many people does Varagu Pongal serve?

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

Is Varagu Pongal vegetarian?

Yes. No meat, no fish and no egg.

Is Varagu 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 Varagu Pongal?

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

Do I need a pressure cooker for Varagu Pongal?

Yes, this one is cooked under pressure.

How many calories are in Varagu Pongal?

About 417 a serving. The full nutrition table is on this page, per serving and for the whole batch.

Varagu PongalCook

Varagu Pongal

Name: Varagu Pongal
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Indian, Tamil Nadu
Ingredients: 200 grams Varagu (Kodo Millet); ½ cup Moong Dal, For Rinsing; 1200 ml Water, For Cooking; 1 grams Turmeric Powder; 1½ tsp Salt; 45 ml Ghee; 2 grams Cumin; 3 grams Black Peppercorns, Crushed; 8 grams Ginger, Finely Chopped; 4 grams Curry leaves; 0.5 grams Asafoetida; 12 Cashew (half); 15 ml Ghee

35 min
mild
Serves 4

Prep 10 min · Cook 25 min

Start cooking

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

Also known as kodo millet pongal, kodra pongal, millet pongal · Veg · Tiffin, One-pot meals

Tiffin One-pot meals

Varagu pongal of kodo millet and moong dal pressure cooked and tempered in ghee with pepper, cumin and cashews. Mild, vegetarian, serves 4, about 35 minutes.

You’ll need: Pressure Cooker

Good for: Pongal, Rainy Day

Ingredients

12 items

4 people

Varagu (Kodo Millet)200 grams
Moong Dal, For Rinsing½ cup
Water, For Cooking1200 ml
Turmeric Powder1 grams
Salt1½ tsp
Ghee60 ml
Cumin2 grams
Black Peppercorns, Crushed3 grams
Ginger, Finely Chopped8 grams
Curry leaves4 grams
Asafoetida0.5 grams
Cashew (half)12

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	417kcal	1668kcal
Protein	12g	47g
Carbohydrate	55g	219g
Fat	18g	71g
Fibre	8.1g	32g
Sugar	0.2g	0.8g

Method

1
Get ready by rinsing the kodo millet and moong dal twice. Finely chop the ginger and crush the peppercorns.
2
Add the rinsed millet and dal to a pressure cooker. Dry roast them on low flame for 3 to 4 minutes until the dal smells nutty and the grains are dry.
Varagu (Kodo Millet)Moong Dal
3
Add water, turmeric powder and salt. Mix well, close the cooker and pressure cook on medium flame for 4 whistles. Let the pressure release naturally until the pressure pin drops, about 10 minutes; the millet and dal should be soft and mash easily.
WaterTurmeric PowderSalt
4
Heat ghee in a small kadai on low flame. Add cumin, crushed pepper, ginger, curry leaves, asafoetida and cashews, and fry for 2 to 3 minutes until the cashews turn light golden and the ginger loses its raw smell.
GheeCuminBlack PeppercornsGingerCurry leavesAsafoetidaCashew (half)
5
Open the cooker and mash the pongal lightly. Add the tempering and extra ghee, then mix on low flame for 2 minutes until it becomes soft and creamy.
Ghee

Before you start

How long does Varagu Pongal take?: 35 minutes from start to finish. That is 10 minutes of preparation and 25 minutes of cooking.
How many people does Varagu Pongal serve?: 4. The ingredient quantities on this page rescale if you are cooking for a different number.
Is Varagu Pongal vegetarian?: Yes. No meat, no fish and no egg.
Is Varagu 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 Varagu Pongal?: 200 grams Varagu (Kodo Millet), ½ cup Moong Dal, 1 grams Turmeric Powder, 2 grams Cumin, 3 grams Black Peppercorns, 8 grams Ginger, and a few more listed on this page.
Do I need a pressure cooker for Varagu Pongal?: Yes, this one is cooked under pressure.
How many calories are in Varagu Pongal?: About 417 a serving. The full nutrition table is on this page, per serving and for the whole batch.

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