Sakkarai Pongal Recipe: Creamy & Sweet South Indian Classic

By Garima Johar

December 4, 2025

Sakkarai pongal, or sweet pongal, is a South Indian delight that is usually prepared during the festive season. Featuring rice, moong dal, jaggery, and nuts, here’s how you can make it in your kitchen.

Ingredients

1 cup rice ½ cup moong dal 1 ½ cups jaggery 1 cup milk 3 cups water 2 tablespoons ghee ½ cup chopped cashew nuts ½ cup raisins 3-4 cardamom pods ½ teaspoon dry ginger powder A pinch of nutmeg powder

Step 1

Wash and soak rice and moong dal. Drain and pressure cook with water.

Step 2

Heat some ghee and roast cashew nuts and raisins. Set aside.

Step 3

Sauté cardamom powder, dry ginger powder, and nutmeg powder.

Step 4

Mix in cooked dal and rice to the mixture. Grate jaggery and stir it in. Let it simmer.

Step 5

Pour in milk and cook till the mixture thickens. Garnish with roasted nuts and serve.