Chakarai Pongal (sweet Rice and Black Gram Pudding)

Ingredients

• ½ cup white rice
• ½ cup moong dhal
• 4 cups water
• ¼ cup cashew nuts
• ¼ cup white raisins
• 1 tablespoon cardamom powder
• 1 cup ghee
• ¾ cup jaggery
• ¼ cup milk

Steps

1. Cook the rice and dhal together with cups of water in a pot or pressure cooker until mushy.
2. Meanwhile, melt the jaggery with 1 cup of water in a pan.
3. Add the cardamom to the jaggery as it melts.
4. Mush the rice and paruppu (dal) mixture well.
5. Add the rice mixture to the pan of jaggery.
6. Stir well and cook on low heat till the mixture comes together well.
7. Heat 4 tablespoons of the ghee in a separate pan.
8. Fry the cashews to golden brown.
9. Add the raisins and fry for a few more seconds or until they swell up.
10. Add the nuts and raisins to the pongal.
11. Serve hot with an additional dollop of neyyi or ghee.