Sakkarai Pongal(Sweet Pongal) - Kovil style

Ingredients

• Basmati Rice – ½ kg
• Moong dhal --2tbsp
• Jaggery – ¾ kg (according to taste)
• Milk – 1ltr
• Water -- 1ltr
• Salt (optional)
• Crushed cardamoms  
• A pinch of Pacha karpooram (edible camphor) and crushed Jadhika  
• Ghee – 400gm

Seasoning

• Cashews -- a handful
• Raisins -- a handful
• Ghee -- 1 tbsp 

Method of Preparation

1. Wash and soak rice and mong dal for 30 minutes
2. Add the salt, water + milk in the vessel. Allow it to boil.
3. Once boiled, add the rice and dhal.
4. Separately melt the jaggery adding little water (1/2 cup). Filter the syrup once it completely dissolves for any impurities. 
5. Now slowly add this syrup and ghee, when the rice is almost done. Mix well to avoid any lumps.
6. Now take a pan and add the ghee given in for garnishing and fry the cashews and raisins. Mix the cashews, raisins, cardamom powder, pacha karpooram, jadhika with the pongal.
7. Am sure you must be seeing the exact Kovil Pongal boiling at your home with the exact aroma and taste 

Tips

1. I have used dark brown round jaggery to get the exact Kovil Pongal colour
2. Sprinkle ghee before serving
3. Adding more milk will enrich the taste so I have mentioned equal proportion but it is actually optional.