Millet sweet pongal (Thinai sakkarai pongal)

Millet sakkarai pongal prepared with foxtail millet/ thinai, moong dal, jaggery, flavored with cardamom and garnished with ghee fried cashews and raisins is a traditional sweet dish popular in South India and is often prepared during special occasions / festivals like Pongal, Navratri, Varalakshmi vratham etc.

Traditionally this Sweet Pongal is prepared with rice like this SAKKARAI PONGAL which I replaced with Thinai/ Foxtail millet for its health benefits and it tasted super yum. Yes, Foxtail millet is a millet variety which is gluten free, easy to digest, a good source of Iron, Calcium, Vitamins rich in anti oxidants and dietary fiber. I had recently posted another recipe with this millet and you can check its recipe here No rice Foxtail millet dosa and Thinai vadai.

Some interesting Sweet Pongal recipes:

So this post is here in blog for upcoming Pongal festival as this festival is never complete without this sweet pongal. Talking about pongal do check this no onion medhu vada recipes below:

So let’s get to the making of Millet Sakkarai pongal!

Millet sweet pongal (Thinai sakkarai pongal)

2023-01-11 14:59:01

Serves 3

Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

20 min

Total Time

25 min

Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

20 min

Total Time

25 min

Ingredients

1. Foxtail millet/ Thinai- ¼ cup
2. Moong dal – 2 tbsp
3. Jaggery powder– ¼ cup
4. Salt – a pinch (optional)
5. Water – 1 ½ cups (approx.)
6. Cardamom – 2
7. Clove – 1
8. Ghee – 3 tbsp
9. Cashews – 5
10. Raisins – 5

Note

* 1 cup = 235 ml

Instructions

Using a motar pestle powder clove and cardamom. Keep it aside.
Wash Foxtail millet/ Thinai, moong dal and salt. In a cooker add washed foxtail millet/ Thinai, moong dal, salt and 1 ½ cups water. Pressure cook for 4 whistles or till done.
When the pressure has subsided open the lid and mash the millet dal mixture. Now add jaggery powder (That jaggery powder I used was clean so added just powder, if using regular jaggery boil in 1/2 cup water , filter the impurities through a strainer then add it to the pongal) to the cooked millet dal along with some water if needed. Mix well.
Now add cardamom clove powder and mix well. Let the the mixture boil for a minute till combined.
Now in a small pan add ghee, cashews and dry grapes. Fry until golden brown and put off the flame. Now pour this mixture to the sweet millet/ millet Sakkarai pongal, mix well and serve it!

By Sandhya Riyaz

Sandhya's recipes https://www.sandyathome.com/

How to make Millet sweet pongal with step by step images

Using a motar pestle powder clove and cardamom. Keep it aside.
Wash Foxtail millet/ Thinai, moong dal and salt. In a cooker add washed foxtail millet/ Thinai, moong dal, salt and 1 ½ cups water. Pressure cook for 4 whistles or till done.
When the pressure has subsided open the lid and mash the millet dal mixture. Now add jaggery powder to the cooked millet dal along with some water if needed. (The jaggery I was used was super clean so added just powder, if using regular jaggery boil in 1/2 cup water, filter the impurities through a strainer then add it to the pongal) Mix well and add cardamom clove powder and mix well. Let the the mixture boil for a minute till combined. Now in a small pan add ghee, cashews and dry grapes. Fry until golden brown and put off the flame. Now pour this mixture to the sweet millet/ millet Sakkarai pongal, mix well and serve it!