1/2 cup raw rice (pachha arisi) 1/4 cup siru paruppu (split yellow gram / moong dal) 1/2 cup kalkandu (sugar candy) 2 and 1/2 cup water 1 tsp cardamom powder 1 or 2 tbsp ghee (clarified butter) cashews and raisin - to garnish

Wash rice and dal. Drain the water completely. Add rice, dal, kalkandu, cardamom powder and water in pressure cooker. Close the lid and pressure cook for 3-4 whistles on medium flame. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Open the lid and mash pongal with the back of a ladle or use a paav bhaji masher. Roast cashews and raisin in ghee and add this to pongal. Mix well everything. The pongal will be sticky and if it is still watery then you can cook it for few mins till water is absorbed. Serve this hot or cold.