Sweet Rice(Pongal)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup rice

1/2 cup yellow moong dal

3/4 cup grated jaggery (adjust to taste)

1/4 cup grated coconut

6-7 green cardamoms, peeled and powdered

8-10 cashews, broken into pieces

a pinch of saffron dissolved in 1/2 cup warm milk

2-3 tbsp ghee

Method:

Wash rice and moong dal in 2-3 changes of water. Drain thoroughly and spread on a plate to dry for 20 minutes.Heat ghee in a deep saucepan. Roast the dal and rice on low heat until glazed and aromatic.Add two cups of water and half cup of saffron milk. Cook till rice and dal are well done and mushy.Mash well so they lose their shape. Add grated jaggery, powdered cardamoms and coconut. Stir and cook on low heat until jaggery is well dissolved and the mixture becomes homogenous.

Heat a tablespoon of ghee in another pan. Roast cashews until they turn golden and add to rice.Spoon into individual bowls and serve warm with a drizzle of ghee.[serves 4-5]