🍯🍚 Sakkarai Pongal

(Sweet Pongal)

A golden, ghee-kissed South Indian festive sweet β€” warm, nutty, and soul-hugging.

🌢️ Spice Level: None

Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 25 mins | Soaking Time: 30 mins
Serves: 4
Calories (approx): ~285 kcal per serving

πŸ”” Tiffin & Temple Bells

🌿 Introduction

Sakkarai Pongal β€” the sweet heart of South Indian festivals β€” is a warm, molten blend of rice, moong dal, jaggery, and ghee.
It’s a dish that tastes like temple prasad: rich, comforting, and deeply traditional.
Served during Pongal, Navratri, and auspicious mornings, every spoonful is a celebration of abundance.

β€œGolden, fragrant, and deeply nostalgic β€” sweet pongal tastes like blessings simmered in ghee”

Sakkarai Pongal

(Sweet Pongal)

Photo by Stirred By Spice

This dish is traditionally prepared during Pongal, the South Indian harvest festival that celebrates gratitude, abundance,

and the joy of simple food. Read more about the meaning and rituals of Pongal.

πŸ“ Ingredients

Main Ingredients

  • Β½ cup Raw Rice

  • ΒΌ cup Moong Dal

  • 1 cup Jaggery (powdered)

  • 2 cups Water (for cooking)

  • Β½ cup Milk (optional for richness)

  • 3 tbsp Ghee

  • 8–10 Cashews

  • 10–12 Raisins

  • Β½ tsp Cardamom Powder

  • 1–2 Cloves (optional)

  • A tiny pinch of Edible Camphor (optional)

🍽️ Instructions

  • 🍚 1. Prepare Base

    Rinse rice + dal. Soak for 30 minutes.

    πŸ”₯ 2. Roast Dal

    Lightly roast moong dal until aromatic.

    🍢 3. Cook Rice + Dal

    Add rice, dal, water, and milk. Cook until soft and mushy.

    🍯 4. Melt Jaggery

    Heat jaggery with a splash of water to form a syrup. Strain if needed.

    πŸ’› 5. Combine

    Add jaggery syrup to cooked pongal. Stir until thick, glossy, and ghee-fragrant.

    🧈 6. Temper

    In ghee, fry cashews + raisins until golden. Add cardamom, cloves, and tiny edible camphor.

    🌟 7. Finish

    Pour tempering into pongal. Mix gently and serve warm.

🍷 Optional Serving Notes

Serve warm with extra ghee drizzled on top for a temple-style finish.

πŸ’¬ Soulful Note

As the jaggery melts and the ghee perfumes the kitchen, sweet pongal becomes more than a dish β€”

it becomes a memory of festivals, family, and the quiet joy of tradition.

πŸ“š Cook’s Wisdom / FAQs

Cook's Wisdom

Tip: Variations: Add grated coconut for extra richness.

  • Rice Choice: Raw rice or pongal rice works beautifully.

  • Sweetness Control: Adjust jaggery to taste; darker jaggery adds deeper flavor.

  • Storage: Keeps 2–3 days refrigerated. Warm with a spoon of ghee before serving.

πŸ“Š Nutrition (Per Serving β€” Approx.)

  • Calories 285

  • Protein 4g

  • Carbs 48g

  • Fat 9g

  • Fiber 1g

πŸƒπŸŒΆπŸƒ The Bottom Line

A festive South Indian classic β€” warm, golden, ghee-rich, and comforting in every spoonful.

🧑 Meet the Heart Behind the Spice

Maya Shetty – Stirred By Spice Author Photo

Hi, I’m Maya Shetty β€” cook, storyteller, and spice lover.

Through Stirred By Spice, I share recipes that warm both the kitchen and the heart β€” where simple ingredients and warm flavors turn everyday meals into moments of connection.

πŸ’¬ I’d Love to Hear From You!

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Share your thoughts using the form below β€” I read every message.

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