Proso Millet Pongal Recipe for a Healthy Breakfast – A Nutrient-Rich Delight

Proso Millet Pongal Recipe:

Incorporating millets into our diet is very important and Proso Millet Pongal Recipe is an effort at this. I regularly include millet recipes in my breakfast. Proso Millet are not just healthy, they make the dish tasty too. Millets are a boon for all health-conscious people. This Proso millet Pongal is one such recipe that includes health and taste. Soaked Proso millet and yellow lentils are cooked and seasoned with cumin, whole peppercorns, ginger pieces, curry leaves, and cashews fried in ghee to prepare it. Proso Millet Pongal Recipe is one of the popular and comforting South Indian breakfast recipes.

Before delving into our Proso Millet Pongal recipe, let’s take a moment to appreciate the humble proso millet plant and its grains. Proso millet, scientifically known as Panicum miliaceum, is an ancient cereal grain that has been cultivated for centuries. The plant typically grows to a height of around 2-4 feet, with slender stems and graceful panicles bearing small, round grains.

Proso Millet grains are spherical to oval in shape. Its length and diameter are about 3mm and 2mm respectively. The color of the grain varies from white cream golden yellow, brown, and straw white. There are prominent longitudinal lines on the grain by which we can easily differentiate from others.

It’s important to familiarize ourselves with the source of our food and understand its origins and characteristics. By doing so, we develop a deeper connection to the ingredients we use, enriching our culinary experience and appreciation for nature’s bounty.

Now, let us know what are the ingredients required to make Proso Millet Pongal Recipe.

Ingredients for Proso Millet Pongal Recipe:

• 1/2 cup Proso Millet
• 1/2 cup Yellow Moong Dal (Split)
• 2 Green Chillies
• 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds (Jeera)
• 2 teaspoon Whole Black Peppercorns
• 1 sprig of Curry leaves
• 8 Cashew nuts
• 1/4 teaspoon Asafoetida (hing)
• 1 teaspoon Ginger, chopped
• 2 tablespoons Ghee
• 1 tablespoon Oil
• Salt, to taste

Instructions for making Proso Millet Pongal Recipe:

• Begin by dry roasting the Proso Millet and moong dal in a hot kadai. This roasting process imparts a delightful aroma to the Pongal.
• Wash and soak the roasted Proso Millet and moong dal together for about 4-6 hours. Soaking facilitates faster cooking.
• In a pressure cooker, combine the soaked millet and dal, 4 cups of water, whole green chilies, and pressure cook for 3-4 whistles or until they turn soft and tender.
• Once the pressure is released, carefully remove the cooker lid and use a ladle to mash the cooked mixture.
• In a deep-bottomed pan, heat ghee and roast the cashews until they attain a rich golden-brown color. After taking the cashews out of the pan, set them aside.
• In the same pan, add oil and when it becomes hot, put the cumin seeds, peppercorns, asafoetida, salt, chopped ginger, and curry leaves. Sauté this mixture for a minute or two and put it on the cooked Proso Millet and Dal.
• Ensuring thorough mixing of all the ingredients.
• Serve the Proso Millet Pongal hot, accompanied by coconut chutney, or even spicy lemon pickle for a delightful and wholesome meal.

Conclusion:

This Proso Millet Pongal Recipe is both nutritious and flavorful, making it a popular and comforting South Indian breakfast choice. Enjoy its health benefits and delicious taste!

Author: Tapas Chandra Roy, A Certified Farm Advisor on Millets, ‘Promoting Millets from Farm to Plate’ and an Author of the book -” Millet Business Ideas-Empowering Millet Startups”. In a mission to take the forgotten grains- Millets to Millions. To remain updated on my blogs on Millets please subscribe to my newsletter and for any queries please feel free to write to [email protected]