ponga-festival-foods-recipes-with-ultra

Traditional Pongal Recipes to Celebrate the Harvest Festival

Pongal is a celebration of harvest, gratitude, and togetherness. The festival is deeply rooted in South Indian culture, where freshly harvested rice, lentils, jaggery, and spices come together to create comforting and nourishing dishes. From savory Ven Pongal to festive Sakkarai Pongal, these traditional recipes are prepared in homes year after year.

This blog brings you authentic Pongal recipes with complete preparation details, along with the right ELGI Ultra kitchen appliances to make festive cooking easy and enjoyable.

Ven Pongal (Savory Pongal)

A classic South Indian dish made with rice and moong dal, seasoned with pepper and cumin.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Serves: 4
ghee-ven-pongal-recipe

Ingredients

  • Raw rice – 1 cup
  • Split yellow moong dal – ½ cup
  • Black peppercorns – 1 teaspoon (crushed)
  • Cumin seeds – 1 teaspoon
  • Ginger – 1 tablespoon (finely chopped)
  • Ghee – 2 tablespoons
  • Cashew nuts – 10
  • Curry leaves – few
  • Asafoetida – a pinch
  • Salt – to taste
  • Water – 4 cups

Recipe

  1. Dry roast the moong dal lightly until aromatic.
  2. Wash the rice and dal together and cook with water and salt until soft and mushy.
  3. Heat ghee in a pan and fry the cashew nuts until golden.
  4. Add cumin seeds, crushed pepper, ginger, curry leaves, and asafoetida.
  5. Pour the tempering over the cooked rice mixture and mix well.
  6. Serve hot with coconut chutney and sambar.

Recommended Product : Elgi Ultra Pressure Cookers (https://www.elgiultra.com/products/pressure-cookers)

Sakkarai Pongal (Sweet Pongal)

A traditional festive sweet prepared with jaggery, ghee, and aromatic spices.

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Serves: 4
sarkarai-pongal-recipe

Ingredients

  • Raw rice – 1 cup
  • Moong dal – ¼ cup
  • Jaggery – 1 cup (powdered)
  • Ghee – 3 tablespoons
  • Cashew nuts – 10
  • Raisins – 1 tablespoon
  • Cardamom powder – ½ teaspoon
  • Edible camphor – a tiny pinch (optional)
  • Water – 4 cups

Recipe

  1. Roast the moong dal lightly and cook it with rice until soft.
  2. Melt jaggery with a little water and strain to remove impurities.
  3. Add the jaggery syrup to the cooked rice and dal mixture.
  4. Cook on low flame until the mixture thickens.
  5. Fry cashews and raisins in ghee and add to the Pongal.
  6. Finish with cardamom powder and edible camphor if using.

Recommended Product : Elgi Ultra Pressure Cookers (https://www.elgiultra.com/products/pressure-cookers)

Medu Vada (Crispy Urad Dal Vada)

A traditional festive sweet prepared with jaggery, ghee, and aromatic spices.

Prep Time: 4 hours soaking + 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • Whole urad dal – 1 cup
  • Green chilies – 2
  • Ginger – 1 teaspoon
  • Curry leaves – few
  • Salt – to taste
  • Oil – for deep frying

Recipe

  1. Soak the urad dal for at least 4 hours and drain well.
  2. Grind the dal into a thick and fluffy batter using minimal water.
  3. Add chopped chilies, ginger, curry leaves, and salt.
  4. Shape the batter into vadas and fry in hot oil until golden.
  5. Drain excess oil and serve hot.

Recommended Product : Elgi Ultra 2.5L Wet Grinder Ultra Bigg (https://www.elgiultra.com/bigg-blue.html)

Pongal Special Sambar

A hearty lentil and vegetable stew that completes the Pongal meal.

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Serves: 4
pongal-special-sambar-recipe

Ingredients

  • Toor dal – ½ cup
  • Mixed vegetables (drumstick, pumpkin, carrot) – 1½ cups
  • Tamarind extract – 2 tablespoons
  • Sambar powder – 2 teaspoons
  • Mustard seeds – 1 teaspoon
  • Dry red chilies – 2
  • Curry leaves – few
  • Oil – 1 tablespoon
  • Salt – to taste

Recipe

  1. Pressure cook the toor dal until soft and mash well.
  2. Cook vegetables with tamarind extract and salt.
  3. Add mashed dal and sambar powder and simmer for 10 minutes.
  4. Temper mustard seeds, red chilies, and curry leaves in oil.
  5. Add the tempering to the sambar and mix well.

Recommended Product : Elgi Ultra Triply krono 2L Pressure Cooker (https://www.elgiultra.com/triply-krono-2l.html)

Coconut Chutney

A refreshing side dish that pairs perfectly with ven pongal and vada.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 5 mins
Serves: 4
coconut-chutney-recipe

Ingredients

  • Fresh grated coconut – 1 cup
  • Green chilies – 2
  • Ginger – ½ teaspoon
  • Roasted chana dal – 1 tablespoon
  • Salt – to taste
  • Mustard seeds – 1 teaspoon
  • Curry leaves – few
  • Oil – 1 teaspoon

Recipe

  1. Grind coconut, green chilies, ginger, chana dal, and salt into a smooth paste.
  2. Heat oil and temper mustard seeds and curry leaves.
  3. Add the tempering to the chutney and mix well.
  4. Serve fresh.

Recommended Product : Elgi Ultra Mixer Grinders (https://www.elgiultra.com/products/mixer-grinders-all)

Why Choose ELGI Ultra for Pongal Cooking

ELGI Ultra appliances are designed to support traditional cooking while meeting modern kitchen needs. From grinding smooth batters to preparing fresh spice mixes, these appliances help preserve authentic taste and texture.

Celebrate this Pongal with wholesome home-cooked meals made easier using trusted kitchen companions from ELGI Ultra.

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Elgi Ultra Grinder

Ultra is the pioneer in compact table top wet grinders and innovator of the patented conical stones. The patented conical stone design makes the batter smooth.

PATENTED CONICAL STONES

For effective grinding without high batter temperature rise

AISI 304 STAINLESS STEEL

Rust-resistant food-grade stainless steel drum for healthy food

ABS BODY

Lighter weight, longer life and great looks

150-WATT MOTOR

Powerful 150W motor for better grinding

2.5L WET GRINDER

Ideal for a family of 4

DIGITAL TIMER

Beep alert & auto switch-off at preset grinding time

MULTI UTILITY DRUM

Batter can be stored in the same drum after grinding

BATTER CLEANER

For easy cleaning of conical stones

Ultra Pressure Cooker

Elgi Ultra Pressure Cookers

A perfect companion in your kitchen, the Ultra range of pressure cooker’s features will delight you.

NO CHARRING

High-impact bonded base, helps prevent burning and sticking of food

FAST COOKING

High-impact bonded base, aids in faster cooking

STAYS WARM FOR LONGER

Keeps food warm for up to 2 hours

DISHWASHER SAFE

Dishwasher safe design, makes it easy to clean

BEAUTIFUL LOOKS

Impressive design, elegant to serve

10-YEAR WARRANTY

Valid in the country of purchase

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Elgi Ultra Mixer Grinders

The Ultra range of mixer grinders are designed to provide healthy and nutritious food at the right texture and consistency

FITTED WITH METAL COUPLERS

Lasts a lifetime compared to ordinary rubber couplers

AISI 304 FOOD-GRADE STAINLESS STEEL

Rust-resistant food-grade stainless steel jars

STAINLESS STEEL METAL BODY

Sturdy, reliable and long lasting

SLOW JUICING FUNCTION

For thick, nutritious juice without crushed seeds

CHOPPER / KNEADER ATTACHMENTS

Tasks like chopping vegetables and kneading dough are made easier using extra smart attachments

ELECTRONIC SPEED SENSOR

Automatically corrects speed fluctuations and maintains the specified grinding speed to get the right texture & taste