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Home » Recipes » Rice & Grains

Instant Pot Sweet Pongal (Sakkarai Pongal)

Published January 10, 2021 Updated February 12, 2022 By Meeta Arora 6 Comments | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Sweet Pongal
Sweet Pongal

Sweet Pongal, also called Sakkarai or Chakkara Pongal, is a popular traditional sweet dish from South India. Made with rice, moong dal, milk and jaggery, it is a delicious sweet pudding made during festivals.

Sweet Pongal garnished with cashews and raisins served in bowls

Sakkarai Pongal is made during the festival of Makar Sankranthi or Pongal. It is served as offering to god (neivedhyam).

In Telugu speaking regions, this recipe is called Chakkara Pongal and it is called Sakkarai Pongal in Tamil Nadu.

Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated in South Indian. This sweet pongal is typically made withe the freshly harvested rice. It is so simple made with basic ingredients and yet so satisfying.

There are 2 types of pongal - Ven Pongal and Sakkarai Pongal. Today I am sharing an easy one-pot recipe for Sweet Pongal that can be made in the stovetop pressure cooker or instant pot.

Sweet Pongal is made with moong dal and rice, cooked in milk and water. Nuts and raisins roasted in ghee are added along with cardamom, to make this most delicious dish.

I got this Andhra sweet pongal recipe from my friend. She makes the best pongal, and we have enjoyed it many times at her place. So I wanted to get the most authentic recipe to share with you all. My daughters loved this sweet pongal and I already have requests to make it every week. .

Sweet Pongal Ingredients

Moong Dal - Use split yellow moong dal in this recipe.

Rice - Use short grain rice to make pongal. I used sona masoori white rice to make this recipe. You can also use amber or other short grain rice.

Jaggery - This provides the earthy sweetness in the recipe. I used powdered jaggery. If you have a block of jaggery, then you can grate it. Or you can melt the jaggery in a cup of boiling water and add to the pongal (reduce the cooking water by 1 cup)

Ghee - In my opinion, ghee is a must to make pongal. If you are vegan, you can use using coconut oil.

Cardamom - I used ground cardamom. You can also coarsely grind 2 cardamom pods using a mortar and pestle.

Edible camphor - A pinch of edible camphor is added to the authentic traditional recipe. It add a characteristic taste and fragrance to the pongal. It is okay to skip of you don't have it available easily.

Cashews and Raisins - These are optional, but add so much flavor to the final dish.

Sakkarai Pongal served in a pretty brass bowl topped with roasted cashews and raisins

How to make Sweet Pongal?

Instant Pot Method

  • Roasting Dal: Start with roasting the dal in the instant pot. Roast it until nice and fragrant for a 2-3 minutes and remove it. You can also roast the dal in a pan separately and keep beforehand.
  • Wash dal and rice: Add the roasted moong dal and rice to a bowl. Wash them well.
  • Roasting cashews and raisins: Add ghee in the instant pot, add cashews, and saute for 30 seconds, then add raisins. Saute till cashews turn golden and take out. 
  • Cook dal and rice: Now add the washed rice, dal to the instant pot. Saute for 2 minutes. Then add water and milk. Pressure cook for 10 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally.
Steps to make sweet pongal in the pressure cooker
  • Make it sweet: Open lid and add powdered jaggery and cardamom. If using edible camphor, add it here. I used jaggery powder to make it a one-pot recipe. You can also use grated jaggery. Mix well and cook for 2-3 minutes. 
  • Pongal thickens as it cools. If needed, add some hot water and adjust the consistency.
Sakkarai Pongal steps in the instant pot

Serve topped with the roasted cashews and raisins. Add more ghee to taste.

Serve as offering to god, and enjoy it water.

Chakkara Pongal served in a pretty brass bowl topped with roasted cashews and raisins

Stovetop Method

  • To make Sweet Pongal on the stovetop, roast the dal in a pan.
  • Similar roast the cashews and raisins in a pan and take out.
  • To the pressure cooker, add the washed dal and rice. Cooked for 3-4 whistles and let the pressure release naturally.
  • Then add the jaggery. If you have a block of jaggery, you can either grate it or boil a cup of water in a saucepan on the stovetop and add the jaggery to it. Stir until the jaggery melts, then add to the cooked dal and rice.
  • Add cardamom powder and edible camphor. Mix and cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Adjust the consistency if needed by adding hot water.
  • Top with the roasted cashews and raisins and serve!

Tips to make perfect Sakkarai Pongal

  • Roasting the dal helps with making the perfect Sweet Pongal. Make sure to not roast too much.
  • For perfect pongal, the consistency of rice and dal should be mushy like a porridge.
  • Don't skimp on ghee when making pongal.
  • The roasted cashews and raisins give a wonderful crunch to the final dish.
  • You can also add grated coconut or desiccated coconut powder to this pongal. Add it along with the jaggery and cardamom.
Sakkarai Pongal (sweet pongal) served in pretty bowls for pongal festival
How to make Vegan Pongal?

To make this pongal vegan, use coconut oil in place of ghee. Skip milk and add more water or you can add almond milk.

Can I make Pongal without milk?

Yes, replace milk with water. Pongal will turn out just as good.

Can Sweet Pongal be made with sugar?

You can replace jaggery with the same amount of sugar. The color of the pongal will be white as we are not adding jaggery.

Tried this recipe?Give a rating by clicking the ★ below
Sakkarai Pongal (sweet pongal) served in pretty bowls for pongal festival

Sweet Pongal (Sakkarai Pongal)

Meeta Arora
Sweet Pongal, also called Sakkarai or Chakkara Pongal, is a popular traditional sweet dish from South India. Made with rice, moong dal, milk and jaggery, it is a delicious sweet pudding made during festivals.
5 from 7 votes
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Servings: 4
Calories: 399
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: South Indian
Diet: Gluten-free, Vegetarian
Method: Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker, Stovetop
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 35 mins

Equipment

  • Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker

Ingredients
 
 

  • ¼ cup Split Yellow Lentils (Moong Dal)
  • ½ cup Short grain Rice washed (125ml), I used sona masoori
  • 1 tablespoon Ghee or Oil
  • 2 tablespoon Cashews halfed
  • 1 tablespoon Raisins
  • 3 cup Water
  • 1 cup Milk
  • ¾ cup Jaggery powdered or grated, adjust sweetness to taste, see notes
  • ¼ teaspoon Cardamom powder (Elaichi)
  • 1 pinch Edible camphor (Pacha Kapooram) optional

Instructions
 

Instant Pot Method

  • Start the instant pot in saute mode and add the moong dal to it. Roast it for 2-3 minutes until it is fragrat. Don't brown too much.
    Roast Moong Dal in instant pot
  • Remove the roasted moong dal to a bowl. Add rice to the same bowl and wash them well.
  • Add ghee in the instant pot, add cashews, and saute for 30 seconds, then add raisins. Saute till cashews turn golden and take out.
    Roast cashews and raisins in a pot
  • Now add the washed rice, dal to the instant pot. Saute for 2 minutes.
    Dal and rice being sautéed in the instant pot
  • Then add water and milk. Cook in pressure cook (manual) mode on high pressure for 10 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally.
    Cooked dal and rice in instant pot
  • Open lid, and add powdered jaggery and cardamom. If using edible camphor, add it here. Mix well and cook on saute mode for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the reserved cashews and raisins. Pongal thickens as it cools. If needed, add some hot water and adjust the consistency.
    Sakkarai Pongal cooked closedup in a ladle
  • Serve topped with the roasted cashews and raisins. Add more ghee to taste.
    Sakkarai Pongal (sweet pongal) served in pretty bowls for pongal festival

Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method

  • Follow the same steps to roast the dal and cashews/raisins. Then cook the dal and rice in the pressure cooker for 3-4 whistles. Then follow the steps to add the jaggery, cardamom and edible camphor. Cook for 2-3 minutes and serve topped with roasted cashews and raisins.

Video

Notes

Vegan Pongal: To make this pongal vegan, use coconut oil in place of ghee. Skip milk and add more water or you can add almond milk. 
Pongal without milk: To make this pongal without milk, replace the milk with water. It will work just as well.
Consistency: Adjust the consistency of the ponagl by adding hot water to it as needed. The pongal will thicken as it cools.
Edible camphor: This adds the authentic taste and fragrance to the pongal. You just need a pinch. Add it along with the cardamom powder. 
Jaggery: I used powdered jaggery to make this an easier one-pot recipe. If you have a block of jaggery, you can either grate it or boil a cup of water in a saucepan on the stovetop and add the jaggery to it. Stir until the jaggery melts, then add to the cooked dal and rice. 

Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Serving: 311gCalories: 399kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 8gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 38mgPotassium: 278mgFiber: 5gSugar: 42gVitamin A: 99IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 94mgIron: 3mg
Keyword chakkara pongal, instant pot sweet pongal, sakkarai pongal
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mugdha says

    May 07, 2022 at 2:02 pm

    Great recipe, pongal came out perfect 👌

    Reply
    • Piping Pot Curry says

      May 09, 2022 at 11:58 am

      Hi - So good to hear that 🙂

      Reply
  2. DEBBA says

    January 29, 2022 at 1:55 pm

    My printout and my screen now do not show what measure on the cardamom. It just shows: ▢¼ Cardamom powdered. I assume 1/4 teaspoon. . .but wanted to make sure. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Meeta Arora says

      February 12, 2022 at 8:12 pm

      Thanks for pointing that out. I have updated on the recipe. It is 1/4 teaspoon.

      Reply
  3. Hema Suresh says

    January 14, 2022 at 5:21 pm

    The recipe for sweet Pongal is very good . I made it this evening. Loved it.

    Reply
    • Meeta Arora says

      January 19, 2022 at 4:52 pm

      Hi Hema - So glad to hear you enjoyed the Sweet Pongal.

      Reply

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