Sugarcane Juice Pongal /Cheruku Rasam Pongali /Karumbu Chaaru Pongal

Sugarcane juice Pongal, known as Karumbu Chaaru Pongal in Tamil or Cheruku Rasam Pongali in Telugu, is a traditional South Indian sweet dish where sugarcane juice is used as the primary sweetener instead of jaggery or refined sugar. This unique version of sweet pongal has a distinct, mild flavor and is often prepared during the Makar Sankranti/Pongal harvest festival. This recipe tastes naturally sweet and is very aromatic too. Traditionally a pinch of edible camphor or carpoora is added for the flavor.

YouTube link:

https://youtube.com/shorts/JVETUe8quJc?si=QAofPESObTsDKJiR

Ingredients:

·        Raw rice - 1/2 cup

·        Moong dal - 1/4 cup

.        Sugarcane Juice – 3 ½ cups

·        Jaggery/ Sugar – 1 tbsp (optional)

.        Salt – 2 pinches

·        Ghee – 1 tbsp

·        Cashew nuts – 1 tbsp

·        Raisins – 2 tsp

·        Cardamom – 2 pinches

·        Cloves -2-3

·       Paccha Karpooram (Edible camphor) – pinch

 Method:

 .      Dry roast the Moong Dal till it starts to change colour.

.       Wash the raw rice and roasted moong dal, now take a small pressure cooker add the washed rice and moong dal, add Sugarcane juice.

.       Pressure cook the rice-dal-juice mix for 1 whistle and then on medium heat for 10 minutes. You can also pressure cook for 4 to 5 whistles on low to medium flame.

.        Let the pressure cooker cool, open the lid.

.       Using a ladle, mix the cooked rice-dal well so that the dal gets mashed.

·        Take a small pan with 1 tbsp ghee and fry the cashew nuts, raisins and cloves. Keep it aside.

·      Add jaggery if required, little salt, add the fried dry fruits, cloves, freshly ground cardamom, and edible camphor to the Pongal

·       Sugarcane juice Pongal is ready to be served hot.

 *** The Sugarcane Juice Pongal is just borderline sweet; so, if you are a person with a sweet tooth or needs more sweetness, add jaggery or sugar while the Pongali is hot and mix well.