Simple and Easy Rava Pongal (Sooji/Semolina Khichidi)
We love the regular rice based Spicy Pongal at home. I usually prepare the Spicy Pongal when I need something quick, tasty with not too much prep work; made using a combination of rice and moong daal along with ginger, pepper it makes a delicious one pot meal. I eat it with a small dollop of ghee, bowlful of yogurt and it makes a warm comforting food.
Last week I received this recipe of Rava Pongal from my parents. The ingredients are same as the regular Pongal but instead substitutes Sooji/Semolina with rice. My mother had tried it, loved the taste and recommended to try it out soon.
I wasted no time in trying it out and loved the simplicity and the flavor of it. This is a great way to cut the carbs and increase the protein intake. The taste is pretty much like regular Upma/Uppittu minus the vegetables. The addition of moong daal does not change the flavor of the Upma.
This takes less than 15 minutes to prepare and all that without the pressure cooker. This is my contribution to the “15 minute Cooking event” hosted by Mahimaa at Indian Vegetarian Kitchen.
Ingredients:
- Fine Sooji/Rava/Semolina – 1 cup
- Moong daal – ½ or 1/3 cup as required
- Cumin seeds – 1tsp
- Chopped ginger -1/2 tsp
- pepper -1/2 tsp
- Grated coconut as per taste
- Oil – 4 Table spoons
- Chopped green chillies – 2 to 3
- Curry leaves
- Hing – ¼ tsp
- Mustard seeds- 1 tsp
- Vegetables (optional)
- water 3 ½ to 4 cups
Method:
- In a dry kadahi roast moong daal lightly to remove the raw smell of the daal. Allow to cool and grind coarsely (almost to powder form) and keep aside.
- Heat the kadahi. Add oil. Mustard seeds, pepper, curry leaves, hing green chillies and then add rava. Roast lightly.
- Then add green gram powder, cumin seeds, ginger.
- Add hot water (with salt) to the mixture (like for uppit) allow for the mixture to get thick like uppit. Finally add grated coconut.
- Serve hot with Cucumber raita.
Delicious Rava Pongal looks great! feel like having it rite now!
Hi Supriya,
Though the method is more or less is the same like upma…it’s a nice variation with moong dal, looks tasty and am sure would be a good comfort food with a comination of raita.
TC
I had this at a wedding breakfast but haven’t made it at home. Tastes really good!!
I have never made this .. sounds quite interesting
RC, that is indeed an interesting and tasty variation. I bet it tastes great with a side of coconut chutney 🙂
I have made pongal often but never with semolina, sounds very interesting and delicious !
I still prefer the rice version of pongal but found the rava pongal quite good too when my husband’s aunty made it.
interesting with semolina … i make pongal but this is different version … will try this …….
Rava pongal is quite common in Tamil Nadu but I have not tried it yet. Grits pongal also tastes good, but like the regular pongal you need to pressure cook it.
Sounds interesting and very good, like all of your recipes.
a good change to the regular rava upma..this is gonna be my breakfast for the next weekend! 🙂
I love the flavors in this.
I make Rava upma and rice pongal, this is 2 in 1!
Love the idea. Looks great too.
That is comfort food! Easy n healthy breakfast!
I have never had this. Is it almost like an upma but more wet? a lovely quick fix for a lazy day/
Rava pongal is quiet familiar and quick fix tiffin!
I didnt know you could make this without the pressure cooker – but I guess roasting the moong dal makes it easier to cook? thanks!
Looks so comforting. After all its moms recipe, so who would not agree that its not delicious 🙂
Loved the addition of sooji.
Never tried making pongal using rava.This looks delicious,bookmarked 🙂
oh nice… good variation to the regular pongal. thx for sending.. i think i haven’t received ur email so far. send it asap.
the variation looks very appetizing!
Thank you all very much for the warm comments. This is a great recipe to have in one’s repotoire. It is quick, filling, nutritious and also guilt free.
i’ll try this with whole grain cornmeal. i do make the rice version often.
The rava pongal looks lovely, RC! Loved the colors in the pico de gallo. Lovely pics!
hey, i never received this entry by email… why didn’t you send it?
Mahimaa, not sure why you did not receive the email. Do you want me to send it again?