Happy Pongal -Time to share a Delightful Recipe

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Wishing everyone a Happy Pongal, Happy Makar Sankranthi, Happy Bihu to all my friends the world over.

 Significance of Pongal
People celebrating Pongal should be aware of the meaning & significance of the important rituals associated with this harvest festival. Pongal or Thai Pongal is also called Makara Sankaranthi, since it is celebrated on the first day of Thai when the Sun enters the Makara Rasi (Capricornus). This signals the end of winter and the onset of spring throughout the northern hemisphere. For the next six months, the days are longer and warmer.
One of the reasons why i love the festivals are the gastronomical delights that get churned out from Chinni's Corner. For those of you who are first time reader Chinni is the nickname for my mom Vijaya who cooks up some lovely food. I capture the essence of it all in the form of photographs and words, weaving together simple recipes that you can all try at home. Todays Recipe is the Mixed Vegetable Sambar. It is very simple to make Sambar if you follow these easy steps
Heat Cooking Oil in a Frying Pan with Mustard. Allow the Mustard to splutter then add chopped vegetables(Can be any vegetables of your own choice)-Carrot,Pumpkin,Capsicum,Beans,Potato, Brinjal,Tomatoes. Allow the vegetables to cook for some time.

Add a pinch of salt

Add a Teespoonful of Sambar Powder

Add Dhaniya Powder, Add Red Chilly Powder


Add a few Green Chillies
\
Add a little bit of sugar


Stir all ingredients well and allow to cook for some time.


Add Tamarind Water to the cooked vegetables mixture



Add Cooked Dal to this Mixture



Add Salt To Taste


Hot Delicious Sambar ready to served with Rice.


Wishing everyone the world over a Very Happy Pongal. A Celebration like this is never really complete without the customary and traditional Sweet Pongal.


and a customary offering to the Gods before we ourselves settle into a sumptuous feast well made.



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