Hot & Spicy Pongal!!!

One of my comfort foods while I'm down with a bad cold & fever!!!
You can serve it alone or with any raitas or with pickles or raw buttermilk rasam (hasi majige hulli) or tamarind & jaggery gojju (hunase gojju). 

Ingredients:

Moong Dal/Hesaru bele - 1/2 cup
Rice - 1 cup
Turmeric - 1 tsp
Green chillies - 4 (slit lengthwise)
Curry leaves - 1 tsp
Fresh coconut gratings - 2 tbsps
Black pepper - 1 tsp
Jeera - 1 tsp
Ghee - 2 tbsps
Ginger - 1 tsp grated
Salt to taste
Milk  - 1 cup (optional)

Method:

Wash the rice & drain out all the water & keep aside. In a pressure cooker heat ghee add the moong dal & Turmeric & fry until golden brown.  Now add the rice & toast it for a min. Now add milk & 2 cups of water, salt & close the lid.  Remove from heat after 3 whistles.

Now for the tadka heat ghee, add the pounded Jeera & Pepper, curry leaves, ginger & green chillies & fry for a min or 2.  Add this to the cooked pongal along with the fresh coconut gratings & mix well.

Serve hot along with some more ghee on top & fried cashews & fresh coriander.

Note: You can omit milk & just add water.  Adding milk gives u a creamy texture.