Vegetable Pongal / Veg Bath - Quick and Simple!!!

Really difficult to decide on a menu to cook on an ice cold night with temperature in minus. Our mind automatically think about some hot, spicy food at that time. As I had very less time for dinner, I needed something which satisfy the mind and stomach and at the same time, it needs to be done in just 15 minutes. In this scenario, the most quickest and easiest Veg Bath or Veg Pongal came for the rescue. Its a simple one pot complete meal with all nutrients in it. No extra grinding is required in this process.

Ingredients

Sona Masoori Rice - 1 Cup

Toor Dal / Thuvaram Paruppu / Kandhi Pappu - 1/4 cup

Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp

Sambar Powder - 2 tbsp

Hing / Asafoetida - 1 Dash

Salt - To Taste

Jaggery - 1 small piece

Red Ripe Tomatoes - 2 Big

Carrot - 1 Big

Beans - 8

Potato - 1 Medium

Peas - Handful

Brinjal - 2 small or 1 Medium

Chayote / Chow Chow - 1 small or 1/2 medium

Red Onion shredded - 1/4 cup

Peanuts / Groundnuts - 1 tbsp ( optional )

Tempering

Oil - 1 tbsp

Mustard Seeds - 2 tsp

Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp

Dry Red chillies - 2

Curry leaves - 1 stem

Urad Dal / Ulutham Paruppu / Minna pappu - 1 tsp

Cashew Nuts - 1 tbsp ( optional )

Method

1. Wash and cut the vegetables into small uniform portions and keep them ready.
2. Wash the  Toor Dal and put them into the pressure cooker first. Add the turmeric powder and little bit of water and allow the Dal to boil with the lid open for 3-4 minutes.
3. Meantime wash the rice and add it to the Pressure cooker along with all other powders, vegetables, salt and Jaggery.
4. Add 4 cups of water to the Pressure cooker and cook the pongal for 3-4 whistles.
5. After the Pressure cooker gets cooled completely, add the tadka to the vegetable Pongal and serve it hot with a side of Raita or Papads/Appalams.  
6. Before serving to kids, add some ghee on top of the Veg Bath / Pongal to make more delicious.