Thinai Ven Pongal| Foxtail millet Pongal is a healthy variation to the traditional pongal made with rice and moong dal. Here rice is replaced with thinai to make this dish healthy. I have shared another Thinai recipe in my blog Thinai Pasiparuppu Payasam which is also an instant & quick to make healthy dessert.
Millets are the best healthy replacement for rice. Nowadays people have become health conscious and consume healthy alternatives like millets. Hope to share more such easy millet recipes when time permits.

Thinai Pongal recipe

Preparation Time:5 minutes
Cooking Time:15 minutes
Cuisine: Tamil
Serves:3-4

 INGREDIENTS:
Thinai/ Fox tail millet- 3/4 cup
Moong dal/Pasiparuppu- 1/2 cup
Salt- to taste

To temper:
Oil+ Ghee- 4 teaspoon
Ginger, finely chopped- 1 teaspoon
Cumin/Jeera- 1 teaspoon
Peppercorns- 1 teaspoon
Curry leaves- 2 strand
Cashewnuts, broken- 5

 PROCEDURE:
  • Dry roast the moong dal inside the pressure cooker with till light golden colour starts to appear; now switch off the flame.
  • Add thinai with this roasted moong dal and rinse with some water to remove the dirt from dal and thinai.
  • Add 5 cups of water and salt; Close with a lid and pressure cook for about 2 whistles.
  • Heat oil and ghee together in a pan and add chopped ginger, cumin seeds, peppercorns, curry leaves and broken cashews; fry everything till the cashews starts to turn golden.
  • Once the pressure releases open the pressure cooker and add the tempering and mix well and cook for a minute or the moisture would almost evaporate and get to a semi solid consistency.
  • Switch off the flame and serve with any chutney or sambar.