½cupmilletAny small millets like Foxtail millet or Little millet or Proso millet or Kodo millet
½cupmoong dal
3cupswater
½inchcrushed gingeroptional
Salt to taste
Ingredients for making tempering to Millet Ven Pongal
1tablespoonghee or oil
½teaspooncumin seeds
10-12curry leaves
green chilioptional
pepper powder to taste
pinch of hing
Instructions
Cooking millet mixture in an Instant Pot
Add washed millet, washed moong dal to the Instant Pot inner pot
Now add water, crushed ginger (if using) to it and close the lid.
Seal the vent of Instant Pot and select manual mode. Cook for 8 minutes on high pressure.
It will take around 10 to 12 minutes for pressure to build up. Once the Instant pot stops, wait for 10 minutes and do a manual pressure release.
Add salt and give a good stir to millet lentil mixture. You can add more water as per your choice of consistency.
Cooking millet mixture in a pressure cooker or an electric rice cooker
Add washed millet, washed mung dal to the pressure cooker, or electric rice cooker inner pot.
Now add water, crushed ginger(if using) and pressure cook for 2 to 3 whistles. Once pressure is released naturally, add salt, mix the cooked millet dal and add water to adjust the consistency.
If using an electric rice cooker, cook until it is done and add salt. You can add water to adjust the consistency as you desire.
Making tempering for ven Pongal
Heat a small pan and add oil to it.
Once the oil is hot, add cumin seeds, cashews, curry leaves, pepper powder, a pinch of hing, and let them fry for a couple of minutes and switch off the flame.
Add this tadka and salt to the millet lentil mixture and stir it well. You can add water to adjust the consistency.
Close the lid for a couple of minutes for the flavor to steep into the dish.
Millet Kara Pongal is ready to serve! Enjoy it hot with a dallop of ghee!
Notes
You can add a handful of peanuts also.
Crushed ginger is optional but adds so much flavor to the Pongal. You can remove it once the millet mixture is cooked.