VEN PONGAL WITH BROWN RICE

   It is Pongal and everyone is busy either posting the festival recipes or atleast checking the web for new recipes. I did not post any as I had the same old sakkara pongal and ven pongal recipes. Nothing different from usual. 

But suddenly it struck to me that I could make pongal more healthier by adding Brown Rice instead of white rice. So gave it a try today. 

       The secret is that we need not inform hubby or kids that it is made of brown rice because, then they may not taste it. Since rice has to mashed up, we will not know the difference at all. 
So first let them have it and then disclose it. " Tada!! What you  have had today is a much healthier version than the usual.. " That is what I generally do :) . I am a little late in posting pongal recipes but still we can do this for any breakfast or dinner items.

Here are some facts about Brown Rice : One cup of brown rice has just 2 grams of fat, including omegas-3 and 6 fatty acids. Brown rice also has no cholesterol and just 10mg of sodium so you can be sure you’re getting nothing but nutrients with every spoonful. So people with Diabetics can have this guilt free rice made purely out of Brown Rice.

Ingredients :

(Serves two)

Brown Rice - 1cup

Moong Dal - ¼ cup

Water – 4 cups

To Temper:

Ghee - 2tsp

Jeera - 1tsp

Peppercorns  - 2 tsp (powdered or as a whole)

Cashew nuts - 8 to 10

Finely chopped Ginger - 1 tsp

Turmeric powder

A few Curry leaves

Method :

Soak Brown Rice in 4 cups of water for 30 to 40 mins. This is an important step. Do not throw away this water. We can use this to cook rice.

Dry roast moong dal till it turns golden brown. After it cools down, wash it with water because it doesn't get mashed well along with rice.

 Add rice along with water in a pressure cooker. Add dal to this  mixture. Add salt as desired and cook it in a pressure cooker for 4-5 whistles.

Heat ghee in a seperate pan. Add jeera, ginger, peppercorn , cashew nuts, curry leaves and turmeric powder. 

Add the cooked rice and dal to this pan. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve hot with coconut chutney or sambar or gothsu .

  

My Notes :

Adding turmeric powder purely optional. I did it so that it gives some color This will help you hide that the main ingredient is brown rice ;)

The water in which brown rice is soaked has lot of nutrients. So wash the rice first and soak it with the amount of water required to cook it.

Sending this to HITS – Diabetic friendly and HITS page