Thinai Ven Pongal Recipe | Foxtail Millet Savory Pongal
Thinai Ven Pongal made with foxtail millet is a wonderful variation to the Kara Pongal or Savory Pongal. Perfect recipe for Breakfast or lunch.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Total Time25 minutes mins
Course: Breakfast, Festival Recipes, Lunch Recipes, Main Course, One Pot Meal
Cuisine: Indian, South Indian, Tamil Nadu
Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 70kcal
- 1 cup Thinai / Foxtail Millet
- ½ cup Payatham paruppu / Moong Dal
- 2 tablespoon Coconut oil
- 2 teaspoon Peppercorn
- 2 teaspoon Cumin seeds
- Curry leaves few
- 1 inch Ginger finely grated
- ¼ teaspoon Asafetida
- Salt to taste
Leaving about ½ teaspoon of black pepper and cumin seeds aside, combine the rest and grind it into a smooth powder.
Fry the moong dal until lightly golden brown and aromatic, about 5 to 7 minutes in low-medium flame. Add the measured millet into the same pan and give a quick stir. Turn off the heat.
Transfer this into the instant pot container or a container that goes inside the pressure cooker. I made mine in the Instant pot.
Rinse it well and add about 5 cups of water to the pot.
Set the IP on manual mode and set the cook time to 12 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally after done.
When the millet/moong dal mixture is done cooking, heat a small pan and add coconut oil to it. If you are not looking for a vegan version, then you can use ghee.
Add the reserved ½ teaspoon of pepper corn and cumin along with asafteida, salt, curry leaves, ginger and the powdered pepper/cumin mixture. Fry them well until aromatic (about 1 to 2 minutes).
Slightly mash the cooked millet/lentil mixture and add the fried seasonings. Mix well to combine and adjust the consistency. Add a splash of water if the Pongal appears too thick.
Check for salt and adjust if needed. Serve hot with chutney, Sambhar or Gothsu.
Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg