Kalkandu Pongal – Sugar Candy Pongal

Pongal festival falls on the 15th of January this year. Am sure all of you will be busy with cleaning and shopping. I usually make Sakkarai Pongal for Pongal festival. This Kalkandu Pongal is a different variety as it is made with kalkandu/sugar candy.. It is a rich, creamy and milky pongal. It  is a very easy sweet that can be had on other days as a dessert too.

Do check my Aval Sakkarai Pongal recipe too..

Now to the recipe…

[Preparation Time-5 mins : Cooking Time-20 mins]

Ingredients:

• Raw Rice – 1 cup
• Sugar Candy/Kalkandu – 1 cup
• Milk – 3 cups
• Cardamom powder – a pinch
• Ghee – 2 tbsp
• Cashews – few
• Raisins – few

Method:

• Wash rice once or twice. Add boiled and cooled milk to it. Pressure cook for a whistle and simmer for 5-7 mins. Switch off the flame. Meanwhile take sugar candy in a mixer and grind it into a powder.

• Once the pressure releases, mash the rice well. To this add the powdered sugar candy. Mix well. U will be able to see that the consistency will be a little loose after adding sugar candy. Heat it over low flame for a couple of mins.

• Meanwhile heat a pan with ghee and roast the cashews and rasins. Add it to the Kalkandu Pongal. Add cardamom powder. Mix well and switch off the flame.

Thats it!! Yummy Kalkandu Pongal is ready!!

Serve warm topped with a dollop of ghee!!

Tips:

• U can adjust the amount of sugar candy according to your preferences. The above measurements will be just right.
• Sugar candy can be added as is without powdering. It will melt while heating it. Mine were a little big, so I have powdered and used.
• U can add more milk after mashing the rice if u prefer a semi-thick consistency .
• This Kalkandu Pongal will thicken after cooling. So add milk accordingly if necessary.