Mahadeva's Bhaga Sasthra

46. Cracked Or Broken Wheat Pongal

Soak yellow or green moong dal in water for 24 minutes. Drain the water and spread it in white cloth and dry the dal. If you soak the dal for a longer period, the dal will become mashed during the cooking period.
Heat ghee in a 3 padi water capacity pan. Add the cracked wheat to the ghee and keep stirring for 5 minutes. Add the dal which is dried in the cloth. Add one ladle full of boiling water to the dish and keep stirring.
Repeat this process of adding hot water and stirring the cracked wheat, dal mixture. Avoid pouring the boiling water all at one time. After the cracked wheat is cooked, add turmeric powder and cumin seeds.
The cumin seeds have to be crushed in the palm of your hands.Add broken white pepper. Soak the pepper pods in water for a whole night and drain the water.
Crush it in a gunny bag to remove the skin. This pepper will then become white in color. This is called white pepper. Add powdered salt and 5 palam ghee and stir for 5 minutes on slow fire. Grated Coconut can be added. Instead of coconut, de-skinned and cut cashew nuts can also be added.