Ven pongal

 Ven pongal, which is an offering to the gods in temples, also makes for an excellent breakfast. Ven pongal is made with mild spices like ginger and pepper corns and generous amount of clarified butter. As it is devoid of garlic and onion it is usually prepared during festival days and other auspicious occasions.

Ingredients:
Raw rice - 1cup
Yellow split green gram -1/4cup
Cashew nuts -3tsps
Clarified butter -1/2cup
Black pepper corns -1tsp
Cumin seeds -1tsp
Curry leaves -few
Asafoetida powder -1/4tsp
Crushed ginger -1tsp
Salt to taste

Method:
Fry the cashew nuts with little clarified butter till brown. Keep it aside.
Dry roast the rice till it emits a nice aroma. Pressure cook it along with green gram till soft. Remove from the cooker. Add salt and mash it well while it is still hot.
Next, heat the balance clarified butter in a frying pan and fry the cumin seeds, black pepper, ginger, asafoetida powder and curry leaves. Mix it with the mashed rice. Garnish with fried cashew nuts.  
Note: One cup of roasted rice and a quarter cup of green gram can be cooked in three cups of water in a pressure cooker.