HOW TO MAKE MADURAI MEENAKSHI TEMPLE STYLE VEN PONGAL

Madurai Meenakshi Temple style ven pongal is more than just a dish—it’s a divine experience. Soft, melt-in-the-mouth rice and moong dal cooked to perfection, generously flavored with ghee, black pepper, cumin, and cashews, this pongal tastes exactly like the temple prasadam served near the sanctum. Made without onion or garlic, this traditional recipe focuses on purity, balance, and comforting flavors. In this post, let’s learn how to make authentic Madurai Meenakshi Temple style Ven Pongal at home.

HOW TO MAKE MADURAI MEENAKSHI TEMPLE STYLE VEN PONGAL – STEP BY STEP RECIPE

1. Cooking the Rice and Dal

• Take any raw rice and yellow moong dal in 2:1 proportion. Here, we have taken 1 cup of rice and half cup of moong dal in a bowl. Wash the rice and dal very nicely with water and discard the water.
• Transfer the washed rice and dal in a pressure cooker. Add water 4x times the quantity of rice and dal. Here, we have added 5 cups of water but ideally should have been 6 cups of water.
• Add a pinch of turmeric powder and salt as per taste. Give a gentle stir to mix these ingredients. Pressure cook the rice and dal for two complete whistles. Allow the steam to settle down on its own and then open the lid of the cooker. You will find that rice and dal will be cooked to a soft and creamy consistency.

2. Prepare the Tempering for the Pongal

• Heat 3 tablespoon of cow ghee or clarified butter in a tempering pan.
• Once the ghee is hot, add 1/4th cup of broken cashew nuts and fry for few seconds
• Next, add 2 tbsp of whole black peppercorns and fry together with the cashew nuts
• Add one tablespoon of cumin seeds, one tablespoon of finely chopped ginger and chopped green chillies. Fry together for few seconds
• Add curry leaves and fry for few seconds more
• Lastly, add 1/4th teaspoon of asafoetida or hing and mix with the ghee. Switch off the gas immediately otherwise the hing will get burnt.

3. Tempering the Ven Pongal

• Pour the tempering on the cooked rice and dal and mix very nicely
• Creamy, comforting and divinely delicious Ven Pongal is ready!!
• Enjoy the ven pongal with coconut chutney and sambar

HOW TO MAKE MADURAI MEENAKSHI TEMPLE STYLE VEN PONGAL – WATCH VIDEO