Varagu arisi pongal/ Millet khara pongal is one of the popular South Indian breakfast prepared with millet and moong dal which is spiced and flavored with peppercorn, cashews, curry leaves and ghee. Ven pongal/ khara pongal is traditionally prepared with raw rice and moong dal, but I have prepared with kodo millet and moong dal to keep it light, healthy and tummy filling as well. This khara pongal is usually served with coconut chutney or this yummy TIFFIN SAMBAR. We all know pongal festival is almost there and since I posted sweet pongal like this SWEET PONGAL WITH CONDENSED PONGAL yesterday thought to share a savory version today. So let’s get to the making millet ven pongal!!
You can try out other pongal recipes :
- SAKKARAI PONGAL
- KALKANDU PONGAL
- BROKEN WHEAT SWEET PONGAL
- VARAGU ARISI SAKKARAI PONGAL
- SWEET PONGAL WITH CONDENSED PONGAL
- QUINOA PONGAL
- GREEN GRAM VEN PONGAL
HAPPY HARVEST FESTIVAL TO ALL!!


- 1. Varagu Arisi/ Kodo millet – ¾ cup
- 2. Moong dal – ½ cup
- 3. Water – 4 cups
- 4. Salt – to taste
- 1. Cashews – 6
- 2. Peppercorn – 1 tsp
- 3. Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
- 4. Chopped ginger – ¼ tsp (optional)
- 5. Curry leaves – 1 sprig
- 6. Ghee - 2 tbsp
- 7. Hing – ¼ tsp
- * 1 cup = 235 ml
- In a pressure cooker add varagu arisi/ kodo millet and moong dal. Wash it thoroughly and soak it in 4 cups of water for 10 minutes. (Meanwhile you can prepare chutney) After 10 minutes add salt. Mix well. (I used 4 cups of water as i wanted the rice to be mashy, soaking will help the pongal get good consistency.)
- Now allow the mixture to boil well. When the mixture has started to boil close the lid with whistle and pressure cook for 4 to 5 whistles in medium flame. When the pressure has subsided open the lid and you will see perfectly cooked millet and dal mixture. Now just mix it with a spatula and you will see millet and dal getting mashed easily without having to put any pressure.
- Now in a small pan add ghee, when it is hot enough add cashews, peppercorn, cumin seeds, chopped ginger, hing and curry leaves. When aromatic add it to the the millet dal mixture in cooker. Mix well. Voila our hot and tasty millet ven pongal is ready to be served with coconut chutney!
How to make Varagu arisi pongal with step by step images

- In a pressure cooker add varagu arisi/ kodo millet and moong dal. Wash it thoroughly and soak it in 4 cups of water for 10 minutes. (Meanwhile you can prepare chutney) After 10 minutes add salt. Mix well. (I used 4 cups of water as i wanted the rice to be mashy, soaking will help the pongal get good consistency.) Now allow the mixture to boil well. When the mixture has started to boil close the lid with whistle and pressure cook for 4 to 5 whistles in medium flame.
- When the pressure has subsided open the lid and you will see perfectly cooked millet and dal mixture. Now just mix it with a spatula and you will see millet and dal getting mashed easily without having to put any pressure.
- Now in a small pan add ghee, when it is hot enough add cashews, peppercorn, cumin seeds, chopped ginger and curry leaves. When aromatic add it to the the millet dal mixture in cooker. Mix well. Voila our hot and tasty millet ven pongal is ready to be served with coconut chutney!