Sweet Pongal, Sakkarai Pongal, Chakkarai

God’s favourite offering, and man’s favourite prasad! Yes, the Sweet Pongal has won this contest hands-down.

For generations, South Indians have believed the Sweet Pongal or Sakkarai Pongal to be one of the best offerings to God, as it combines rice and dal with jaggery and spices, all being auspicious ingredients with a positive connotation.

The taste, understandably, is divine! The rich flavour and aroma of jaggery, together with the magical tinge of spices makes this a droolworthy delicacy.

Dry roasting the dal before cooking also boosts its aroma, making the flavour of the dish richer too. As a variant of this Sweet Pongal, sometimes the rice and dal are cooked in a mixture of milk and water. This gives the sweet dish a milky taste and luscious mouth-feel.

Sweet Pongal is compulsorily made for the Pongal festival. Freshly-harvested rice, if available, is used to make the Sweet Pongal, in new earthen pots!

Imagine the heady aroma that emanates from the streets of South Indian villages as every household makes this heavenly dish in their courtyard on Pongal day!

Also do try other South Indian sweets like Imarti , Churna and Mysore Pak .