I am Malayali married to a Tamilian. So after my marriage when Balu mentioned Pongal all I could remember was the festival I had learnt about in school textbooks during which a delicacy by the same name was made. I presumed it to be a sweet porridge like preparation but Balu mentioned Ven pongal to be midly spiced and savoured with sambar and vadais which is different from the sweeter version, the Sarkarrai Pongal. Well, curiosity got the better out of me and I did a little bit of research. After trying different version of the recipe, I zeroed onto the one that belongs to Mr. Srivatsa.
Ingredients:
Note: The above quantity should suffice two people.
Heat ghee in a pressure cooker. Add peppercorns and jeera. When the splutter add in curry leaves. Add in the rice and dal mixture. Keep stirring and let all the water evaporate and then stir for some more time. Add water (2 measures of water for each measure of rice. You can add some extra water if you like the slightly overcooked version). Add salt and shredded coconut. Close the lid and keep on high flame until the first whistle. Then turn the flame to medium and cook for another 2 -3 whistles. Once you open the lid, mix it up thoroughly. Serve hot with sambaar.
Apart from Mr. Srivatsa’s cuilinary skills, I am a big fan of his renditions. I am going to leave you with his rendition of Shylock’s Soliloquy from Merchant of Venice.
To bait fish withal ; if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwated my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies – and what is his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew Hands?, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed by the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same summer and winter as a Christian is? If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge! The Villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard, but I will better the Instruction
Coconut in ven pongal? That is blasphemy. All will be well when we tamils invade the malabar country. And who is this srivatsa fellow anyway? Sounds too north indian to be considered an authority on pongal recipe. This lady was. Or is still is.