By Rajlakshmi
October 24, 2025
Pongal or khara pongal is light on the stomach, tastes divine and is super easy to make. It’s a very typical breakfast option in many South Indian families across the country. It’s made with rice and lentils in a porridge-like consistency. Here’s a recipe for veg pongal that you can try at home.
100 grams of basmati rice ⅓ cup of split moong dal 3 tablespoons of ghee ½ teaspoon of mustard seeds ½ teaspoon of cumin seeds 1 ginger, chopped 2-3 green chillis ½ teaspoon of pepper powder 2 stems of curry leaves 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder Salt to taste 1.5 cups of water
Switch on the heat. Take a pressure cooker. Pour the ghee in. Add the mustard seeds. Let it splutter.
Next, add the cumin seeds. Let the cumin seeds splutter.
Once the cumin seeds stop spluttering, add the curry leaves, ginger, pepper and chillis. Sauté for 30 seconds.
Add in the turmeric powder. Stir it a few times. Pour in the rice and moong dal. Mix well.
Cover the pressure cooker with the lid. Set it for one whistle.
Once the whistle goes off, take it off the heat. Once pressure is released and the lid pops open, stir the pongal gently.
Serve veg pongal with ghee on top and a coconut chutney.