Pongal with Rock Sugar or Sugar Candy / Kalkandu Pongal

Posted on Wed, Apr 14, 2010 | 12 Comments | Print Print | Email Email |
Ingredients in English/Tamil ? Visit Ingredients List

Cook Time :25 Min | Servings : 2 persons

Happy Tamil New year Friends !!
I was thinking to do something sweet on the Tamil New year day but wasn’t sure what to do. Suddenly got reminded of the rock sugar which I recently brought from Indian groceries and got this recipe from my MIL. She was telling me that this would taste like halwa as we add more milk and ghee. Trust me, they tasted really like halwa !!! I added more milk than water, also the ghee improved it’s taste.
Rock Sugar Pongal / Kalkandu Pongal
I don’t remember a special occasion on when this is prepared at our houses, but these days Kalkandu pongal is served in marriages at my palce for dinner.

Rock Sugar Pongal / Kalkandu Pongal
Some people don’t add milk and prepare just with water, it depends on how you like and milk can be skipped. Of course cooking rice in milk enhances the taste. Some add orange food color or saffron to enhance the look, but I made it plain with no extras. Whatsoever, we really enjoyed this on this new year occasion !!

Ingredients :
Rock Sugar 1/2cup
Ghee 2 tbsp
Raisins 5 nos
Cashew nuts 10 nos
Cardamom Powder 1 tsp
To Pressure Cook:
Raw Rice 1/2 cup
Milk 1 1/2 cup cup
Water 1 cup
Directions:
  1. Step 1

    Soak rice in water for 10 min and pressure cook with the milk and water for 3 whistles. Fry cashews and raisins in ghee and keep it aside.

  2. Step 2

    After the pressure is released mash the rice with the spatula and transfer it to a non-stick pan. Add the rock sugar, ghee and cardamom and mix well till the sugar is dissolved and combined well with the rice. After the sugar is dissolved, mix well for some more minutes till the rice would doesnt stick to the pan and rolled up easily. Add the cashews and raisins.

Tips :
  • Instead of pressure cooked rice, rice can be cooked in a vessel and the rock sugar can be added at the end nd mixed well with the other ingredients.
  • Saffron can also be added to get a slight golden color.
  • Pinch of orange food color can be added to get nice color.

(*) Recipe from my Mother-in-law.

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12 Responses to “Pongal with Rock Sugar or Sugar Candy / Kalkandu Pongal”

  1. Malar Gandhi says:

    Belated Tamizh New Year Wishes, buddy. I was bit tied up…so cud’nt get to your blog’ for a while. Pongal looks delicious:)

  2. Sashi says:

    Thank you all ladies for the wishes, hope you’ll had a great time too.

  3. Srimathi says:

    Sashi,

    Happy New Year to you. The kalkandu bath is so yummy to look at. Great that you have posted it. Sometimes we are always lost for dessert ideas and it will be nice to try such new. I love the way you take the yummy pictures. Nice…

  4. Panchpakwan says:

    Looks so yummy sweet dish…
    Happy Tamil new year to you and your family..

  5. Nandini says:

    THIS…IS…SO…YUMMY!!!! I cant’ help but drool so badly! And tamizh puthandu nalvazhtukal!

  6. Iniya Tamil Puthandu Nalvazhthukkal to u Sashi,,kalkandu Pongal super nalla zooooom panni eduthurukkeenga paa.

  7. did u received my comments dear,,gave 2 times plz confirm me.

  8. Priya says:

    Iniya puthaandu nal vazhuthukkal Sashi..Kalkandu pongal looks truly delicious and makes me drool…have a fabulous day..

  9. Yummy Team says:

    Delicious pongal, great pictures too..Wishing you a very happy and prosperous Tamil New Year!!

  10. This looks tempting, new to me but surely is yummmmm….

  11. Namitha says:

    Awesome..I never had this pongal..must be delicious.Happy New year !

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